Concluding Remarks: Perspectives and long-term vision

As we launch into the 21st century, humankind is faced by unprecedented challenges. As our perspective on our planet approaches the global scale, both scientifically and socially, we realize that in the impact of our behavior we are a geoforming species. At the same time, our understanding of the whole planet is in its infancy. This is particularly the case for the oceans, due to the logistical limitations of studying an environment in which we do not directly live.