The ocean is the major element controlling the long-term stability of the earth´s climate. It involves a complex pattern of interrelations between its physical, geological, chemical and biological components: the greater the complexity and diversity of these links the more robust is the stability of the system, and the healthier the earth. A set of papers that resulted from communications presented at a workshop held in Las Palmas on November 1998 emphasises the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the ocean.