An epic excursion into one of the last great frontiers on EarthThe deep ocean comprises more than 90 percent of our planet's biosphere and is home to some of the world's most dazzling creatures, which thrive amid extreme pressures, scarce food supplies, and frigid temperatures. Living things down here behave in remarkable and surprising ways, and cutting-edge technologies are shedding new light on these critically important ecosystems. This beautifully illustrated book leads you down into the canyons, trenches, and cold seeps of the watery abyss, presenting the deep ocean and its inhabitants as you have never seen them before.Features a wealth of breathtaking photos, illustrations, and graphicsGives a brief and accessible history of deep-sea explorationExplains the basics of oceanographyCovers a marvelous diversity of undersea organismsDescribes habitats ranging from continental slopes to hydrothermal vents and abyssal plainsDiscusses humanity's impacts on the deep ocean, from fisheries and whaling to global climate change and acidificationWritten by a team of world-class scientists