World Oceans: A Reference Handbook

With this excellent addition to the series, Newton (chemistry and physics, formerly Salem State Coll.) informs readers of the hazards facing oceans. He emphasizes early and often the importance of laws and practices that sustain the marine ecosystem. He skillfully addresses issues facing the world’s oceans (overfishing, sea level rise, reef erosion, pollution) and explains their potential effects on oceans, marine flora and fauna, and humankind. Newton spotlights a number of figures active in ocean preservation, including Sylvia Earle, Sir John Murray, Greenpeace, and the Surfrider Foundation. The book includes a “Data and Documents” section, with five tables and 13 documents of core numbers and studies; particularly informative are tables on the 1993–2019 rise in sea level and the 1979–2019 Arctic Sea ice minimum. The list of resources includes books, articles, reports, and websites.