Library Home > Research Guides > Oceanography > Oceanography Reference Resources

Oceanography Reference Resources

Introduction to Reference Resources
Reference Resources

Introduction

Reference materials serve a variety of purposes and can sometimes be used effectively in searching the scientific literature. Reference materials can be used to:

define terminology--dictionaries
locate accepted knowledge and topical overviews--encyclopedias, comprehensive works, handbooks and reviews
find factual information--directories and statistical compilations
identify research on specific topics--reviews and bibliographies
locate standard methods and procedures--handbooks and manuals

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Provide definitions of discipline terminology and/or general introductions to topics and concepts in oceanography. Scholarly encyclopedias include references to selected "primary" literature.

Encyclopedia of Beaches and Coastal Environments (Schwartz) 1982 (ref GB 450.4 E53 1982)
Encyclopedia of Coastal Science (Schwartz) 2005 (HSU users only) Updates Encyclopedia of Beaches and Coastal Environments. Includes approximately 350 scholarly essays with references.
Encyclopedia of Earth (Environmental Information Coalition) Includes 3,500 articles about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. Articles are written by scholars, professionals, educators, and other approved experts who collaborate and review each others' work. The articles are written in non-technical language and are intended to be useful to students, educators, scholars, and professionals, as well as to the general public.
Encyclopedia of Earth System Science (Nierenberg) 1992 (4 vols.) (ref QE 5 E514)
Encyclopedia of Environmental Biology (Nierenberg) 1995 (3 vols.) (ref QH 540.4 E52)
Encyclopedia of Geology (Selley, Cocks and Plimer) 2005 (5 vols.) (ref QE 5 E516 2005) Scholarly encyclopedia that covers all aspects of earth history, earth materials, earth and surface processes, economic geology, history of geology and the regional geology of specific areas. A contents list is available.
Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences (Steele, Thorpe, & Turekian) 2001 (ref GC 9 E58 2001) Six-volume set contains over 400 articles which are listed at Contents and Authors.
Encyclopedia of Oceanography (Fairbridge) 1966 (ref GC 9 F3) Older one-volume encyclopedia in oceanography Topics in the Encyclopedia of Oceanography (Baum) contains an alphabetical list of articles in the encyclopedia.
Facts on File Dictionary of Marine Science (Charton) 2001 (ref GC 9 F28)
GEBCO Gazetteer of Geographic Names of Undersea Features (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) List of undersea feature names that appear on the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans and Regional International Bathymetric Charts.
Gazetteer of Undersea Features (US Defense Mapping Agency) 1990 (print copy available in Docs D 5.319:Un2)
Glossary of Coastal Geomorphology (HSU users only) Appendix 4 of the Encyclopedia of Coastal Science
Glossary of Coastal Terminology (US Army Corps of Engineers) 2003. Appendix A of the Coastal Engineering Manual.
Glossary of Geology (Jackson) 1997 (ref QE 5 B38)
Glossary of Marine Biology - Derived from Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology by Jeffrey Levinton.
Glossary of Meteorology (American Meteorological Society) 2000
Glossary of Physical Oceanography and Related Disciplines (Baum)
Ocean-Science Related Acronyms (NOAA. Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)
Standard Encyclopedia of the World's Oceans and Islands (Huxley) 1962 (ref GB 471 H9 1962) Topics in the Ocean World Encyclopedia (Baum) lists the 350 articles describing the most important seas, islands, and other features in the world's oceans. Also includes a gazetteer with over 2,000 entries.
UN Atlas of the Oceans Portal containing information on the sustainable development of the oceans. It is designed for policy-makers who need to become familiar with ocean issues and for scientists, students and resource managers who need access to databases and approaches to sustainability. The Atlas includes four main information entry points: ABOUT (the oceans) - from history, biology, maps and statistics to research, climatology and ecology; USES (of the oceans) - from fishing, shipping and mining to tourism, dumping and marine biotechnology; ISSUES - from food security and climate change to governance and human health; and GEOGRAPHY - information categorized by geographical area.

Directories

These are commonly alphabetical or subject listings of people, organizations, or places.

People
- Ocean Expert: Global Directory of Marine and Freshwater Professionals (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) Directory of marine and freshwater professionals, institutions, jobs and events.
- UC Marine Council Directory of Marine Sciences (University of California Office of Research) Lists over 650 faculty involved in marine research and education. Search by campus, discipline or name.
Organizations
- Annotated Acronyms and Abbreviations of Marine Science-Related International Organizations (Docs C 55.292:Ac7/981)
- Guide to the Marine Stations of the North Atlantic and European Waters (ref QH 91.65 E85 R68)
- IOC/UNESCO List of Ocean Related Titles and Acronyms (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) Contains over 2,500 acronyms in oceanography.
- List of Research Vessels (ICES) Lists research vessels by country
- Marine Science Societies and Organizations (MareNet)

Scientific reviews or "state-of-the-art" reviews critically survey a narrow topic and identify and evaluate research which has appeared in the "primary" literature. Extensive bibliographies of cited "primary" literature are commonly included. Scientific reviews typically appear in annual publications entitled "Annual review of ...", "Advances in ...", as well as in journals, especially those which have "review" as part of the title.

There are several ways to locate scientific reviews:

Many annual review series have cumulative indexes.

Individual review papers are commonly included in indexes. Create a search using the keyword "review" as part of your search strategy.

The 39 titles in the "Annual Review of ..." publication series can be browsed or searched by keyword as far back as 1930.

Annual review series of interest in oceanography include the following titles. Use the Journal and Newspaper Finder to determine location and format.

Advances in Geophysics

Advances in Marine Biology

Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Earth Science Reviews

Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review

Progress in Oceanography

Progress in Phycological Research

Bibliographies

Bibliographies are compiled lists which gather together known research on a specific topic. They are generally more useful for retrospective rather than current searching. Listed below are some additional general oceanography and Pacific Coast bibliographies available in this Library.

General
- Cumulative Bibliography on the History of Oceanography (Scripps Institute of Oceanography) Attempts to list all works on the history of oceanography from 1987 to the present. Compiled from the bibliography published annually in the History of Oceanography Newsletter.
- Tidal Marsh Bibliography (Daiber) 1978 (QH 541.5 M3 D35)
- World Ocean Circulation Experiment Bibliography
Pacific Coast
- Bibliography for the Coastal Circulation of the Eastern North Pacific (Viena) (GC 228.6 N68 V54)
- Bibliography of Marine Geology and Oceanography, California Coast (Terry) 1955 (Cal Docs C 810 S6 #44) (California Division of Mines and Geology Special Report #44) Covers the literature up through 1955.
- Ecology of the Southern California Bight Bibliography (Allen) 1989. Includes 6768 references on the Bight and other relevant literature from the west coast of North America.
- Guided Bibliography of Coastal Salt Marsh Literature with Special Reference to the Pacific Northwest Region (Morgan) 1980 (ref QH 541.5 S25 G85)
- Humboldt Bay, California, a Literature Survey (GC 856 W35 Hum Co Coll) The original literature survey along with accompanying bibliography was compiled in 1955 by the University of Washington Department of Oceanography. The bibliography portion is updated through 1969 by A Partial Bibliography on Humboldt Bay (GC 856 P37 Hum Co Coll).
- Oceanography of the Nearshore Coastal Waters of the Northwest Relating to Possible Pollution (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) 1971 (Water Pollution Control Research Series 16070 EOK 07/71) (Docs EP 1.16:16070 EOK 07/71) Extensive literature review up through 1970 containing 3,100 references on the coastal zone from Cape Mendocino north to Washington.
- Oceanography of the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Bering Strait (Grier) 1940 (GC 781 G75) Includes approximately 3000 references up through 1939. Emphasis is on biological oceanography.
- Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program: Comprehensive Bibliography (Docs I 72.12/2:86-0058) Covers the Alaska OCS region.
- Selected Geologic Literature on the California Continental Borderland and Adjacent Areas to January 1, 1975 (Roberts) (U.S. Geological Survey Circular 714) (print copy available in Docs I 19.412:714) Overlaps but does not supercede the 1955 bibliography by Terry.
Marine biology
- See Marine Biology: Bibliographies (HSU Library)

Comprehensive Works

Listed below are treatises that are authoritative compilations on the state of knowledge in various areas of oceanography and databases that contain extensive compilations of oceanographic information.

Behavior of Marine Animals: Current Perspectives in Research (Winn) 1972- (QL 121 W5) Currently 6 vols.
Chemical Oceanography (Riley) 1975- (10 vols.) (GC 111.2 R592)
Ecological Characterization of the Central and Northern California Coastal Region (Jones & Stokes Associates) 1981 (FWS/OBS-80/46.2) (QH 105 C2 E36 1981 Hum Co Coll) Five volume work in eight parts. Prepared for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management as a compilation and synthesis of existing information that can be used to evaluate potential ecological consequences of urban, industrial and commercial development in the area. The bibliography is intended to be a guide to additional environmental information. The five volumes cover:
Ecological Characterization of the Pacific Northwest Coastal Region 1980 (5 vols.) (Docs I 49.2 Ec7/8) Survey prepared for the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Geology of North America (Geological Society of America) 1986-1998 (QE 71 G48 1986) 23 volume series, includes volumes on the continental margins.
Handbook of Marine Mammals (Ridgeway & Harrison) 1981- (QL 713.2 H355) Currently 5 vols.
Marine Ecology: A Comprehensive Integrated Treatise on Life in the Oceans and Coastal Waters (Kinne) 1970-1984 (5 vols. in 12 parts) (QH 541.5 S3 K5)
Ocean Basins and Margins (Nairn) 1973-1996 (8vols.) (QE 39 N27) Major treatise on the geology and geophysics of the world's ocean basins and margins.
The Oceans: Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology (Sverdrup) 1942 (print copy available in GC 11 S85) The first major treatise on oceanography.
Reproduction of Marine Invertebrates (Giese & Pearse) 1974- (QP 251 G437) Mulivolume treatise.
The Sea: Ideas and Observations on Progress in the Study of the Seas (Hill) 1962- (GC 11 S4) Major ongoing treatise on new developments in oceanography. Each volume has a unique title.
Summary of Knowledge of the Central and Northern California Coastal Zone and Offshore Areas (Winzler and Kelly) 1977 (ref GB 458.8 W56) (4 volumes in 7) Extensive summary of existing information through 1974 prepared for the US Bureau of Land Management as background information for potential of OCS oil leasing. Covers physical, biological, and socioeconomic conditions. Includes an 800 page bibliography.
Summary of Knowledge of the Oregon and Washington Coastal Zone and Offshore Areas (Oceangraphic Institute of Washington) 1977 (3 vols.) (microfiche MC 1473) Extensive survey of the knowledge of this area up through 1977 compiled for the Bureau of Land Management as background information for potential of OCS oil leasing
Treatise on Marine Ecology and Paleoecology (Hedgpeth) 1957 (Geological Society of America Memoir #67) (QE 1 G29m #67) The first major treatise on marine ecology.

Handbooks and Manuals

Handbooks commonly contain data and descriptive information that has been compiled from the "primary" literature and organized into tables or expository articles. Many basic and factual questions can be answered from handbooks. Manuals usually contain procedures for experimental analysis in the field or laboratory.

Coastal Engineering Manual (US Army Corps of Engineers) 2002-2003. Comprehensive manual that incorporates tools and procedures to plan, design, construct, and maintain coastal projects. The five volumes include the basic principles of coastal processes, methods for computing coastal planning and design parameters, and guidance on how to formulate and conduct studies in support of coastal flooding, shore protection, and navigation projects. Replacement for the older Shore Protection Manual.
Data Analyis Methods in Physical Oceanography (Emory and Thomson) 2001 (GC 57 E46 2001)
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (ref QD 65 H3)
Handbook of Marine Science (Smith) 1974 (ref GC 24 S64)
Handbook of Oceanographic Tables (U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office Special Publication #68) (Docs D 203.22/3:68)
Handbook of Techniques for Aquatic Sediment Sampling (Mudroch & MacKnight) 1994 (GC 380.2 S28 H36 1994)
International Oceanographic Tables (Joint Panel in Oceanographic Tables and Standards) 1966- (4 vols.) (GC 24 J24)
Manual of Aquatic Sediment Sampling (Mudroch) 1995 (GC 380.2 S28 M83 1995)
Manual of Chemical and Biological Methods for Seawater Analysis (Parson, Maita & Lall) 1984 (GC 101.2 P37 1984)
Manual of Methods in Aquatic Environmental Research, Parts 1-5 (Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (FAO Fisheries Technical Papers #137, 150, 158, 164, 182) (SH 1 F203)
Manual on Methods for Measuring Primary Production in Aquatic Environments (Vollenweider) 1974 (QH 96 V56 1974)
Methods for Sampling and Analysis of Marine Sediments and Dredged Materials (Waltone) 1978 (GC 300.2 S28 M47)
Methods of Seawater Analysis (Grasshoff) 1983 (GC 101.2 M47 1983)
National Enviromental Methods Index (US Environmental Protection Agency) Database of analytical, test, and sampling methods for environmental monitoring that are used by federal agencies. Search by analyte, instrument, source, medium and other parameters.
Nautical Almanac (ref Docs D 218.11) Annual compilation of data for the practice of astronomical navigation at sea.
OceanInstruments: How They Work, What They Do and Why They Do It (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
Oceanographic Survey Techniques and Living Resources Assessment Methods (Tortell & Awosika) 1996 (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Manuals and Guides No. 32)
Oceanographic Utilities (Tomczak)
Pelagic Ecology Methods (Rao) 2002 (QK 934 P44 2002)
Practical Handbook of Marine Science (Kennish) 1994 (ref GC 11.2 P73)
Procedures for Handling and Chemical Analysis of Sediment and Water Samples (Plumb) 1981 (QD 79 S4 P58)
Studying Temperate Marine Environments: A Handbook for Ecologists (Kingsford and Battershill) 2000 (QH 541.5.S3 S78 2000)
Techniques in Marine Environmental Sciences (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) 1987- (GC 1080 T43)

Laws and Regulations

General
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law (HSU Library)
- Coastal and Ocean Management Law in a Nutshell (Christie and Hildreth) 2007 (KF5627 Z9 C48)
Federal Laws and Regulations
- For Federal statutory, case, and administrative law in the HSU Library see Statutory, Case and Administrative Law: Federal and California
- Marine Mammal Commission Compendium of Selected Treaties, International Agreements, & Other Relevant Documents on Marine Resources, Wildlife & the Environment (Wallace)1994-2000 (print copy available in Docs Y 3 M33/3:2 T71)
- Compilation of Selected Acts Concerning Marine Resources Including Fisheries, with Amendments through the End of the 106th Congress (U.S. House of Representatives. Committee on Resources) 2001 (Committee Print 107-E) (microfiche copy available in Docs Y4 R31/3:107-E fiche)
- Selected Oceans and Coastal Resources Statutes (Oceans & Coastal Resources: A Briefing Book)
California Laws and Regulations
- For California statutory, case, and administrative law see Statutory, Case and Administrative Law: Federal and California

Graphics and Images

One can use a combination of general and specialized Internet search engines to find images on the web. See Images for a list of specialized search engines. However, search engines fail to index the content of the "invisible web", especially information contained within databases. The following sources are either specialized databases or sites devoted to images or sounds in oceanography:

Freshwater and Marine Image Bank (University of Washington Libraries) 18th and 19th century digital collection of images related to freshwater and marine topics.
Images-Visualizing Data (US National Geophysical Data Center)
NOAA Photo Library (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Contains several image collections of interest in marine science.

Geospatial Resources: Atlases and Maps

Oceanographic atlases and maps graphically compile large quantities of oceanographic station to give a composite picture of various oceanographic properties. In addition to the following resources see Geospatial Resources--Marine Maps and California Maps--Coast and Ocean.

Guides
- Oceanography Atlases: A Guide to Their Geographic Coverage and Contents (ref GC 11.2 S76) Geographically arranged index to physical and chemical charts and profiles found in approximately 100 oceanographic atlases published through 1975.
World Atlases
- Atlas of Surface Marine Data (da Silva) 1994 (NOAA Atlas NESDIS 6,7,8,9,10,12,13,17) (Docs C 55.242: 6,7,8,9,10,12,13,17 microfiche) A six volume data series with supplemental volumes that depicts the world's seasonal and yearly variations of the surface marine atmosphere.
- Atlas Okeanov (Atlas of the Oceans) (Gorshkov)1977-1993 (print copy available in atlas G 2800 W6 folio) Vol. 1: Pacific Ocean; Vol. 2: Atlantic and Indian Oceans; Vol. 3: Arctic Ocean; Vol. 4: Straits of the World Ocean. An excellent and authoritative Russian atlas containing maps on many oceanographic topics including history of ocean exploration, ocean floor topography, meteorology, biogeography, and navigation. A large part of the atlas contains charts of hydrographic properties by month at the surface and at standard depths. Accompanying the atlas are booklets containing the English translation of the Russian text.
- Climatological Atlas of the World Ocean (Levitus) 1982 (NOAA Professional Paper 13) (Docs C 55.25:13 microfiche)
- GEOSECS Expedition Atlas (Docs NS 1.41 folio) Series of atlas volumes resulting from the Geochemical Oceans Section Study (GEOSECS) cruises conducted during the International Decade of Ocean Exploration (IDOE) in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Includes vertical sections and graphs on temperature, salinity, oxygen, nutrients, and CO2. Also includes scatter diagrams and individual oceanographic station records.
- Serial Atlas of the Marine Environment (atlas G 1046 C7 A4 folio) Continuing series of map folios produced by the American Geographical Society on the physical and biological characteristics of the oceans. Each folio is devoted to a specialized topic.
- Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen and Phosphate in Waters off the United States (Docs C 55.219/3: 2 folio) Vol. 1: Western North Atlantic; Vol. 2: Gulf of Mexico; Vol. 3: Eastern North Pacific. Contains graphic displays and histograms on temperature, salinity, oxygen, and phosphate derived from NODC's Oceanographic Station Data File from 1920-1970.
- Times Atlas of the Oceans (Cooper) 1983 (Atlas G 2800 T3 1983)
- World Ocean Atlas (US National Oceanographic Data Center. Ocean Climate Laboratory) Periodically updated atlas series that contains objectively analyzed (1° grid) climatological fields of in situ temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, Apparent Oxygen Utilization (AOU), percent oxygen saturation, phosphate, silicate, and nitrate at standard depth levels for annual, seasonal, and monthly compositing periods for the World Ocean.
- World Atlas of the Oceans : with the general bathymetric chart of the oceans (GEBCO) published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service (Leier) 2001 (Atlas G 2800 W59 2001) Contains thematic maps of the world's oceans followed by reproductions of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans and the National Geographic Society's physiographic maps of the ocean floor.
Pacific Ocean Atlases
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Atlas (Cal Docs M 135 A8) This is a continuing atlas series containing data and charts on the hydrography and plankton of the California Current region; derived from annual cruises conducted since 1949.
- NORPAC Atlas (folio GC 771 O25 Suppl 1955 vol.2 CASE) Based upon the international NORPAC Expedition in 1955, contains horizontal charts and vertical sections on temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, currents and plankton. Station Data was published in a special 1955 volume of Oceanic Observations of the Pacific.
- Oceanographic Atlas of the Pacific Ocean (atlas G 2861 C7 B3 1968 folio) Contains horizontal charts, vertical sections, and histograms on temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen compiled from 50,000 oceanographic station records in NODC's Oceanographic Station Data File.

Environmental Reviews, Assessments, & Plans

Contain analysis of environmental policies and issues and may also contain statistical data. For general reviews see Environmental Reviews. Reviews more specific to oceanography include:

America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change (Pew Oceans Commission) 2003 (cd-rom containing all the documents is available in GC 1020 P48 2003) Contains a final report on the State of America's Oceans; recommendations for implementation; and supporting reports on Managing Marine Fisheries in the United States, A Dialogue on America’s Fisheries, Socioeconomic Perspectives on Marine Fisheries in the United States, Marine Reserves: A Tool for Ecosystem Management and Conservation, Ecological Effects of Fishing, Coastal Sprawl, Marine Pollution, Marine Aquaculture and Introduced Species. National Coastal Condition Report (US Environmental Protection Agency) Report compiles and summarizes data sets from several agencies and areas of the country to present a broad baseline picture of the condition of coastal waters, primarily estuaries in the United States. Indicators of coastal conditions are derived from data on water quality, sediment quality, biota, habitat, and ecosystem integrity, as they relate to ecological and human health. Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century (US Commission on Ocean Policy) 2004. Contains the Commission’s final recommendations for a comprehensive national ocean policy, along with supporting documents developed by the Commission.
Ocean Yearbook (International Ocean Institute) Annual (GC 1 O2) Contains topical articles on major ocean issues of the year ranging from political to scientific. Our Living Oceans: Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources (US National Marine Fisheries Service) 1999 (print copies available in Docs C 55.13/2:NMFS-F/SPO #1) Presents national and regional overviews on the status of U.S. living marine resources.
Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation (Sheppard) 2000 (QH 541.5 S3 S35 2000 ) Major three-volume evaluation.
State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) (print copy available in Docs C 55.402 Ec7) Periodic national assessment of the condition of U.S. coral reefs. Report identifies the pressures that pose increasing risks to reefs, particularly in “hot spots” located near population centers; assesses the health of reef resources; ranks threats in 13 geographic areas; and details mitigation efforts.
State of the Coast (US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 1998-2001. Series of essays on the health of the coastal areas of the United States.
Status of Coral Reefs of the World (Australian Institute of Marine Science) Biennial report includes individual regional chapters.

Data Sources

Oceanographers need access to data and the ability to combine data from a variety of sources. Beginning with the Challenger Expedition in 1872 vast quantities of marine environmental data has been collected by oceanographic expeditions and programs conducted by institutions, nations and international cooperatives. Data collected was originally published in encyclopedic sets. Sets available in the HSU Library are listed below under Historic Data Collections. Today remote sensing satellites and automated facilities scattered throughout the ocean basins supply a continuous flow of data which resides in numerous databases. See the Guides to Data and Modern Data Sources below.

Guides to Data
- Environmental Data Sets (NOAA Seattle Regional Library) Data is listed by discipline, region, type and provider.
- Global Change Master Directory (NASA) Contains more than 30,000 descriptions of data sets and services covering all aspects of Earth and environmental sciences. Search by broad topic, keyword, geographic or time.
- Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) (Group on Earth Observations (GEO)) Cooperative effort among over 100 governments and leading international organizations to link and expand earth observation data systems.
- Ocean Data Portal (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. International Oceanographic Data and Information Exhange--IODE) Provides tools for discovery, access and visualization of marine data found at national oceanographic data centers in the IODE network.
- ROSCOP (Cruise Summary Report) (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) The searchable database contains 18,000 Cruise Summary Reports (formerly ROSCOP--Report of Observations/Samples collected by Oceanographic Programmes) that represent an inventory of oceanographic data collected by research vessels since 1960. The database can be searched by geographical and topical parameters to identify cruises of interest.
- SeaDataNet (European Commission)Links 80 national oceanographic data centres and marine data centres from 35 countries riparian to all European seas.
- Selected References to Literature on Marine Expeditions, 1700-1960 (University of Washington. Fisheries-Oceanography Library) 1972 (GC 57 S45) Arranged by ship or expedition name, this bibliography lists oceanographic research reports and data compilations that have resulted from marine expeditions.
Historic Data Collections
- "Dana" Report (Q 115 C25) and Danish "Dana" Expeditions (Q 115 D3) Multivolume set of physical and biological data collected in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans during 1920-1930.
- "Discovery" Reports (Q 115 D7) Continuing multivolume set of physical and biological data collected since 1930 in the Antarctic Ocean.
- "Galathea" Report (Q 15 D335) Continuing multivolume set of biological data collected during the Danish Deep Sea Expedition, 1950-1952.
- Ocean Observations of the Pacific (GC 771 O25) Thirteen-volume set of physical and biological data collected during "Pre-1949" through 1959 by Scripps Institution of Oceanography and other cooperating institutions. Included are records of early CalCOFI cruises.
- John Murray Expedition. Scientific Reports (Q 115 J55) Eleven-volume set of biological and physical data collected during 1933 and 1934 in the Indian Ocean by the "Mabahiss."
- Report of the "Michael Sars" North Atlantic Deep Sea Expedition (Q 115 B5) Five-volume set of physical data collected during 1904-1913 in the North Atlantic.
- Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyages of the HMS "Challenger" (print copy available in Q 115 C58) Fifty-volume set of biological, physical, and geological data collected from the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans during the first major oceanographic expedition conducted between 1873-1876.
- Report of the Swedish Deep Sea Expedition (Q 115 S94) Ten-volume set of geological and physical data collected by the "Albatross" during 1947 and 1948 in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
- "Valdivia" Expedition (Q 115 D4) 24-volume set of biological data collected in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during 1898 and 1899.
Modern Data Sources

Below are a few selected sites. Use the above Guides to Data to locate the many sources of modern data.
- General
  - Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (National Ocean Service) Collects, analyzes, and distributes historical and real-time observations and predictions of water levels, coastal currents, and other meteorological and oceanographic data.
  - National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) (National Weather Service) Contains real-time and historic meteorological and oceanographic data from moored buoys and Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) Stations. The Library also has an historic NOAA Marine Environment Buoy Database on cd-rom (auxiliary GC 150.5 N26 1994) which includes data through 1992.
  - National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) Includes more than 300 geophysical digital and analog databases concerning the solid earth, marine, and solar-terrestrial environment, as well as earth observations from space.
  - National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) NODC holds physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic data collected by government agencies in the U.S., university and research institutions and private industry. It also acquires through exchange oceanographic data of foreign origin through the collocated facilities of the World Data Center of Oceanography.
    - Global Ocean Temperature & Salinity Profiles. 1991 ( GC 166 G56) Two cd-rom set containing temperature and salinity profiles derived from NODC archive files covering the years 1900-1990. Data is in ASCII format.
    - Oceanographic Station Profile Time Series. 1993 (GC 150.5 O23 1993) Cd-rom containing oceanographic data having repetitive samples along ocean sections or at fixed stations for long periods. Includes sections along coastal California from the California Cooperative Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI).
  - Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (fomerly the Deep Sea Drilling Program) (National Science Foundation) International partnership of scientists and research institutions organized to explore the evolution, structure, and past environments of the Earth as recorded in seafloor sediments and rocks.
    - Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (Docs NS 1.38)
    - Marine Geological and Geophysical Data from the Deep Sea Drilling Project (US National Geophysical Data Center) 1989 (QE 39 D37 1989) Data available on cd-rom
    - Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program (print copies available in NS 1.38/2) Includes the Initial Reports and the Scientific Results
  - nowCoast (US National Ocean Service Coast Survey Development Laboratory) Web mapping portal that provides spatially-referenced links to thousands of real-time coastal observations and forecasts of interest to the marine community. The interactive map interface links to meteorological , oceanographic, hydrologic and water quality data available from federal, state, and educational observing networks. Menus also allow you to select data by location, type of observation/forecast and time.
- California -- see California Environment Infornmation Sources--Coast and Ocean.
- Northwestern California -- see Northwestern California/Klamath Bioregion Environment Information Sources: Coast and Ocean and ...: Humboldt Bay and other Estuarine Environments.