Long regarded as an empty and inhospitable environment, the deep ocean is rapidly emerging as an ecological hot spot with a remarkable diversity of biological life.
Today, given the well-publicized impacts of events such as El Nino, there is an unequaled public awareness of how climate affects the quality of life and environment.
Sea ice, which covers up to 7% of the planet s surface, is a major component of the world s oceans, partly driving ocean circulation and global climate patterns.
