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Essentials Oceanography, 9th Edition

Tom S. Garrison, Robert Ellis

  • Copyright 2026
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2025-02-03T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $84.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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Essentials Oceanography 9th Edition by Tom S. Garrison/Robert Ellis
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Overview

"Essentials of Oceanography" offers a clear, engaging introduction to the complexities and uncertainties of ocean use, emphasizing the critical role oceans play in sustaining life. Designed with students in mind, the text distills key concepts of oceanography into an accessible narrative, free from excessive technical jargon. Its flexible organization supports a chapter-per-week structure, allowing time for deeper exploration or review. Featuring exclusive content from the National Geographic Society, the 9th Edition showcases the ocean's complexity and beauty, making the subject approachable for a wide range of learners. Best-selling authors Tom Garrison and Robert Ellis highlight the interdisciplinary nature of marine science, providing students with a dynamic and up-to-date foundation in oceanography.

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Meet the Authors

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Tom S. Garrison

Tom Garrison (Ph.D., University of Southern California) was an inspiring professor of marine science for over 47 years at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California -- one of the largest undergraduate marine science departments in the United States. Dr. Garrison also held an adjunct professorship at the University of Southern California and won multiple teaching and education awards during his career. A founding member of the Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement, he wrote a regular column for the journal OCEANOGRAPHY and enjoyed writing for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine. Dr. Garrison was an Emmy Award team participant as writer and science adviser for the PBS syndicated "Oceanus" television series as well as a writer and science adviser for "The Endless Voyage" -- a set of TV programs on oceanography. His widely used textbooks in oceanography and marine science are college market bestsellers, and 42 years of teaching allowed him to pass his oceanic enthusiasm to more than 65,000 students.

Robert Ellis

Robert Ellis (M.E.S.M., University of California, Santa Barbara) has been teaching marine, earth and environmental science courses in both the classroom and the field since 2000. He serves as associate professor in the marine science department at Orange Coast College in Southern California and director of the OCC Public Aquarium. When not on campus, Professor Ellis often helps to develop and teach international field courses in marine science and management in various parts of the Caribbean, Central America and the South Pacific. His graduate work focused on marine resource management at UC Santa Barbara, and he has participated in and managed research projects and educational programs in many parts of the world. He and wife Katie have two wonderful kids, Kalen and Abigail.

What's New

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  • Chapters have been modified to reflect current thought and recent research. Each chapter has been thoroughly revised to reflect the latest findings in the field, and some of the areas of the text have been expanded based on current events and the recommendations of other instructors. It is our sincere hope that the resulting work accurately reflects the present state of our fast-moving field of science.
  • The interdisciplinary nature of marine science is emphasized. In addition to our historical strong emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of marine sciences throughout the text, this edition attempts to make those connections even more prominent. Notes to refer back to other chapter sections or figures are commonly highlighted to keep the attention on how each topic relates back to things students have previously learned or will learn in future chapters.
  • New Learning Objectives have been added to guide students through each chapter. The new chapter Learning Objectives have guided the revision to produce a more complete educational resource that focuses on the key concepts that are most important for students to understand.
  • A modified the illustration program makes the textbook more visually appealing to better engage students. We have incorporated a number of new National Geographic Society assets as well as new photos from a variety of different sources to greatly enhance the visual program for increased clarity and accuracy. Many additional figures have been added or revised to help students better understand the key concepts and freshen up the aesthetic feel of the chapters.
  • The heading numbering system has been amended to include enumeration of subsections. In light of the increased references to other sections to better highlight the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography, consecutive letters have been added to the numbered sub-headings. Our goal is to enhance the ability of instructors and students to easily find the specific information they are looking for.

Features

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  • The heading numbering system has been amended to include enumeration of subsections. In light of the increased references to other sections to better highlight the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography, consecutive letters have been added to the numbered sub-headings. Our goal is to enhance the ability of instructors and students to easily find the specific information they are looking for.
  • The text continues to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of marine science, stressing its connections with astronomy, physics, chemistry, meteorology, geology, biology, ecology, history and economics. Using an engaging writing style, authors Tom Garrison and Robert Ellis help students gain "an oceanic perspective" in which water, continents, seafloors, sunlight, storms, seaweeds and society are connected in beautiful ways.

Table of Contents

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1. An Ocean World.
2. Plate Tectonics.
3. The Ocean Floor.
4. Water and Ocean Structure.
5. Atmospheric Circulation.
6. Ocean Circulation.
7. Waves and Tides.
8. Coasts.
9. Life in the Ocean.
10. Marine Communities.
11. Uses and Abuses of the Ocean.
Appendix I Measurements and Conversions.
Appendix II Geological Time.
Appendix III Absolute and Relative Dating.
Appendix IV Maps and Charts.
Appendix V Latitude and Longitude, Time, and Navigation.
Appendix VI The Law of the Sea Governs Marine Resource Allocation.
Appendix VII Working in Marine Science.
Glossary.
Index.

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MindTap Options

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MindTap
Each MindTap product offers the full, mobile-ready textbook combined with superior and proven learning tools at one affordable price. Students who purchase digital access can add a print option at any time when a print option is available for their course.

This Cengage solution can be seamlessly integrated into most Learning Management Systems (Blackboard, Brightspace by D2L, Canvas, Moodle, and more) but does require a different ISBN for access codes. Please work with your Cengage Learning Consultant to ensure the proper course set up and ordering information. For additional information, please visit the LMS Integration site.

Standalone Digital Access — Ultimate Value

Recommended and most popular

  • ISBN-10: 8214193559
  • ISBN-13: 9798214193557
  • RETAIL $84.95
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Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 8214193567
  • ISBN-13: 9798214193564
  • RETAIL $84.95

  • ISBN-10: 8214193494
  • ISBN-13: 9798214193496
  • RETAIL $204.95
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

MindTap for Garrison/Ellis's Essentials Oceanography, 1 term Instant Access

ISBN: 9798214193557
MindTap for Garrison/Ellis’s “Essentials Oceanography” 9th Edition, is the digital learning solution that powers students from memorization to mastery. It gives you complete control of your course to provide engaging content, challenge every individual and build their confidence. Empower students to accelerate their progress with MindTap. MindTap: Powered by You. MindTap for "Essentials Oceanography" is a fully integrated digital learning platform designed to immerse students in the study of the ocean. It features dynamic tools such as concept animations and video quizzes that make complex topics more accessible and engaging, fostering a deeper understanding of marine science. Reading comprehension quizzes help students stay on pace while reinforcing key concepts, and conceptual learning activities challenge them to think critically about the interdisciplinary nature of oceanography. Mapping activities visually solidify key oceanographic processes and concepts, helping students connect theory to real-world phenomena. New to this edition, virtual field trips provide an exciting opportunity to explore diverse ocean ecosystems and processes from anywhere, bringing the subject matter to life like never before. MindTap offers everything students need to succeed, making oceanography both captivating and approachable. MindTap gives you complete ownership of your content and learning experience. Customize the interactive syllabi, emphasize the most important topics and add your own material or notes in the eBook.