The Ocean Sciences in Action Manual may accompany our free, open-access textbook Introduction to Ocean Sciences, 6th Edition, but it can be used independently to teach an entire introductory oceanography or marine science course. The textbook and manual were completely updated and rewritten in 2026 to include the latest scientific content.

The Ocean Sciences in Action Manual costs $99 for students. However, we are offering it free of charge for the 2026-2027 school year to students of instructors who have not used it before. Contact us at [email protected] to arrange free copies for your students

The Ocean Sciences in Action Manual includes:

• Investigations that lead students through the analysis and interpretation of real-world ocean data
• Two investigations per textbook chapter, a total of 32 self-contained investigations
• Answer keys for each investigation that integrate directly into your school’s learning management system
• Six additional case studies, offering deeper dives into key concepts

Orders for the Ocean Sciences in Action Manual can be placed through your campus bookstore and are available via Inclusive Access (a.k.a. First Day Access). Go to Order Class Materials for details. Students will also be able to place orders directly through the AMSEDU Bookstore.

If you are a faculty member interested in using the AMS Ocean Sciences materials in a current or future course offering, please request an examination copy of the manual.

As a scientific nonprofit, AMS uses proceeds from the Manual to support the ongoing maintenance and updating of the open-access Introduction to Ocean Sciences textbook. Please support this effort by adopting the manual in your courses.

Table of Contents

• 1A Maps in Action
• 1B Data in Action
• 2A Ocean Policy in Action
• 2B Bathymetry in Action
• 3A Observation in Action
• 3B Exploration in Action
• 4A Plate Tectonics in Action
• 4B Coastal Margins in Action
• 5A Water and Heat in Action
• 5B Density in Action
• 6A Sediment in Action
• 6B Mass Extinction in Action
• 7A Planetary Heating in Action
• 7B Atmospheric Circulation in Action
• 8A Surface Currents in Action
• 8B The Conveyor Belt in Action
• 9A Waves in Action
• 9B Extreme Waves in Action
• 10A Gravity in Action
• 10B Tides in Action
• 11A Shifting Shorelines in Action
• 11B Tropical Cyclones in Action
• 12A Photosynthesis in Action
• 12B Trophic Transfers in Action
• 13A Coastal Landscapes in Action
• 13B Estuaries in Action
• 14A Survival Strategies in Action
• 14B Reproduction in Action
• 15A Coral Reefs in Action
• 15B Extreme Environments in Action
• 16A Human Impacts in Action
• 16B Climate Change in Action
• Sample Case Studies: Decades of Melting