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 Related Knowledge (19)
 17 SUB-TOPICS:
 Biology Biology
 Coasts and Coral Reefs Coasts and Coral Reefs
 Early Explorations Early Explorations
 Ecology Ecology
 Education and Training Education and Training
 How oceans are changing How oceans are changing
 How oceans were formed How oceans were formed
 International Cooperation International Cooperation
 Maps, Statistics and Databases Maps, Statistics and Databases
 Monitoring and Observing Systems Monitoring and Observing Systems
 Ocean-atmosphere interface Ocean-atmosphere interface
 Ocean Dynamics Ocean Dynamics
 Physical and Chemical Properties Physical and Chemical Properties
 Real-Time Links to The Living Oceans Real-Time Links to The Living Oceans
 Research Research
 The Oceans of the Future The Oceans of the Future
 Virtual Office for Chief Editors Virtual Office for Chief Editors
 Topic Overview
 ID# : ecosystems
 Visits: 41577
 Added: 01-Jan-2000
 Updated: 04-Aug-2011
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ABOUT
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Covering about 70% of the earth's surface, the oceans are a highly productive system which continuously recycles chemicals, nutrients and water through the 'hydrological cycle', which powers climate and weather, and which regulates global temperature by acting as a giant heat reservoir from the sun. The oceans contain a rich array of plant and animal life. About two-thirds of the world's population live within 60 kilometres of the coast, and almost half of the world's cities with more than one million people are sited in and around the tide-washed river mouths known as estuaries. From a human point of view, oceans are also a major source of food and employment, and provide natural routes for communication, transportation and trade.
Photo credit: Image courtesy of NOAA
 
The About section was sourced from Man and the Ocean, a product of the Russian Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography (HDNO), and from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), both foundation partners of the UN Atlas of the Oceans. It is now managed by the UN-Oceans agencies.
 
 
 
 
All  (19) News   (6) Events   (1) Websites   (4) Documents   (1) Books   (3) Multimedia   (1) Institutional Contact   (3)
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News
Events
Websites
Development Gateways are innovative Internet portals that seek to maximize the interchange of development information with the objective of assisting countries to achieve sustainable development and to reduce poverty. Australian Development Gateway- sustainable development through shari...g knowledge Development Gateways are innovative Internet portals that seek to maximize the ...  
Links to the primary Web sites of all NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) program and staff offices. NOS/NOAA Links Links to the primary Web sites of all NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) program...  
Collection of online peer-reviewed articles that chronicle all aspects of ocean science and its applications. Oceanography Collection of online peer-reviewed articles that chronicle all aspects of ocean...  
SeaWeb is a project designed to raise awareness of the world ocean and the life within it. The ocean plays a critical role in our everyday life and in the future of our planet. We believe that as more people understand this and begin to appreciate the earth as a water planet, they will take actions to conserve the ocean and the web of life it supports. SeaWeb Home Page SeaWeb is a project designed to raise awareness of the world ocean and the li...  
Documents
Recommendations for a New Ocean Policy America's Living Oceans. Charting a Course for Sea Change Recommendations for a New Ocean Policy 
Books
Annual reviews of key ocean-related topics Ocean Yearbook Annual reviews of key ocean-related topics 
Between a surfing book and a waves book Surf Science. An Introduction to Waves for Surfing Between a surfing book and a waves book 
Alphabetical listing of key environmental issues such as pollution, water resources The Essentials of the Environment Alphabetical listing of key environmental issues such as pollution, water resou...  
Multimedia
The complex relationship between oceans, climate and weather The effect of climate and weather on our oceans The complex relationship between oceans, climate and weather 
Institutional Contact
The Census of Marine Life (CoML) is conceived as a decade-long international research program to promote and fund research assessing and explaining the diversity, distribution, and abundance of species in the world oceans. Census of Marine Life The Census of Marine Life (CoML) is conceived as a decade-long international re...  
Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography (HDNO) of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography (HDNO) Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography (HDNO) of the Russian Federation...  
The World Ocean Observatory is a place and program of exchange for ocean information, education, and public discourse on ocean topics. World Ocean Observatory The World Ocean Observatory is a place and program of exchange for ocean inform...  
979 Topics - 5229 Related Knowledge - 11257 Members - 47 Editors
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