An Introduction to the World's Oceans places greater emphasis on the physical and geological aspects of the oceans than on the chemical and geochemical properties, because the latter disciplines require more specific background knowledge. An ecological approach helps integrate the biological chapters with other subjects. Students are encouraged to look at oceanography as a cohesive and united discipline rather than a collection of subjects gathered under a marine umbrella. As with all previous editions, the authors continue to make each chapter stand as independently as possible, so that teachers can assign chapters in the order that best suits their classrooms.

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Each chapter in the new edition contains learning outcomes at the onset of the chapter.

Dr. John Delaney, a professor of Oceanography at the University of Washington, has rewritten his Field Notes essay for the new edition discussing new approaches to exploring the ocean to include the five-year Keck study that developed 40 new instruments.

LuAnne Thompson, professor of Atmospheric Sciences and Interim Director of the Program on Climate Change at the University of Washington, has contributed a Field Notes essay on The Oceans and Climate Change.

New illustrations have been added including images and drawings of internal wave propagation, NOAA's Project DART, Great Lakes shoreline erosion, temperature variations in global mean sea level, and depth penetration of different wavelengths of light.