Product Description

The sixth edition of Descriptive Physical Oceanography provides an introduction to descriptive physical oceanography for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. The emphasis is on large-scale oceanography, based mainly in observations, with some topics from waves and coastal oceanography also included. Topics include the physical properties of seawater, heat and salt budgets, instrumentation, data analysis methods, introductory dynamics, oceanography and climate variability of each of the oceans and of the global ocean, and brief introductions to the physical setting, waves, and coastal oceanography.

Product Description
"Physical oceanography" encompasses a broad range of subjects, from heat transfer to sound and optics. Knauss brings all these disparate fields together in this comprehensive text. He strikes a balance between purely descriptive texts and mathematically rigorous ones, assuming readers only have knowledge of elementary calculus and physics. This results in a straightforward, readable book that makes the material accessible both to readers specializing in physical oceanography and those from other disciplines who need to understand the fundamental principles of physical oceanography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Versatile for a One-Shot Course for Students with Wildly Different Backgrounds
Knauss (2005) is a textbook suitable for use in college courses for upper division undergraduate and beginning graduate students.In an oversimplified way, two ways exist for directing an introduction to physical oceanography course.One approach uses two courses, with the first one descriptive and the second based on dynamics.

Using this approach, students with backgrounds in any field can take the first course, with those having backgrounds in mathematics, physics or engineering taking the second one.

Knauss (2005) does not fit in this two-step approach.It is short on description for a semester-long course and short on dynamics for a course of the same length.Because Knauss (2005) does not fit in the two-step approach, criticizing Knauss (2005) for its weakness in either description or dynamics has little meaning.

A second way of teaching an introduction to physical oceanography brings students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, geology or biology together in a single course.Knauss (2005) does fit in this single-step approach.It allows students using it to step into dynamics in an easy and graceful way.It also has enough description to allow students to understand why we need dynamics to explain what description reveals.A disappointing side of Knauss (2005) is its lack of a chapter on the history of physical oceanography.While other branches of science took centuries to develop, physical oceanography went from nothing in 1893 to part of modern science in 1914, an interval of just 21 years!

To compare Knauss (2005) with other physical oceanography textbooks, see my reviews of Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Mellor (2008), Descriptive Physical Oceanography by Pickard and Emery (1990) and Introductory Dynamical Oceanography, Second Edition by Pickard and Pond (1983).

Great inro into a complex subject.
This intro to physical oceanography is both approachable and easy-to-read, just like a good intro should be. I would recommend this text to anyone who wants to learn more about what drives ocean circulation. Potential readers should be beware that physical oceanography is, at its core, a quantitative science and this text reflects this. If you really want to follow the text, be prepared to break out your calculus book, a pencil and some paper.

Gentle intro to PO
This book is really a "Gentle Intro to PO".The material is well organized and coherently presented.The book, however, is really a survey of PO rather than a solid introductory text (which doesn't really exist, btw); suitable for non-quantitative or non-physics oriented reader.With this book Dr. Knauss makes PO accessible to a wider audience,... which has never been done before!

Great book!!
The book came on time and its a good book and is helping me in my course.

Knauss Review
Very informative and easy to read.

Knauss includes mathematical formula derivation if you need more of a challenge, but also includes simple explanations of many physical processes within the ocean.

Great for both beginners and the more-experienced oceanographers out there!

Shame it's so hard to get hold of (out of print in UK). ... Read more

Product Description
Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography is a practical reference
guide to established and modern data analysis techniques in earth and ocean
sciences. This second and revised edition is even more comprehensive with numerous updates, and an additional appendix on 'Convolution and Fourier transforms'.

Intended for both students and established scientists, the five
major chapters of the book cover data acquisition and recording, data
processing and presentation, statistical methods and error handling,
analysis of spatial data fields, and time series analysis methods. Chapter 5
on time series analysis is a book in itself, spanning a wide diversity of
topics from stochastic processes and stationarity, coherence functions,
Fourier analysis, tidal harmonic analysis, spectral and cross-spectral
analysis, wavelet and other related methods for processing nonstationary
data series, digital filters, and fractals. The seven appendices include
unit conversions, approximation methods and nondimensional numbers used in
geophysical fluid dynamics, presentations on convolution, statistical
terminology, and distribution functions, anda number of important
statistical tables. Twenty pages are devoted to references.

Featuring:

• An in-depth presentation of modern techniques for the analysis of temporal and spatial data sets collected in oceanography, geophysics, and other disciplines in earth and ocean sciences.

• A detailed overview of oceanographic instrumentation and sensors - old and new - used to collect oceanographic data.

• 7 appendices especially applicable to earth and ocean sciences ranging from conversion of units, through statistical tables, to terminology and non-dimensional parameters.

In praise of the first edition:

"(...)This is a very practical guide to the various statistical analysis methods used for obtaining information from geophysical data, with particular reference to oceanography(...)

The book provides both a text for advanced students of the geophysical sciences and a useful reference volume for researchers." Aslib Book Guide Vol 63, No. 9, 1998

"(...)This is an excellent book that I recommend highly and will definitely use for my own research and teaching." EOS Transactions, D.A. Jay, 1999

"(...)In summary, this book is the most comprehensive and practical source of information on data analysis methods available to the physical oceanographer.The reader gets the benefit of extremely broad coverage and an excellent set of examples drawn from geographical observations." Oceanography, Vol. 12, No. 3, A. Plueddemann, 1999

"(...)Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography is highly recommended for a wide range of readers, from the relative novice to the experienced researcher.It would be appropriate for academic and special libraries." E-Streams, Vol. 2, No. 8, P. Mofjelf, August 1999

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great reference for students and practicing professionals in oceanography
This is a must have for all field oceanographers.The material is well organized and clearly presented.Excellent companion for intro data analysis and observational physical oceanography texts.

Highly recommended
In Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography, Emery and Thomson have drawn together a broad range of information on data analysis methods in a single volume. It is an excellent book for the experienced researcher as well as upper level undergraduates and graduate students. It could either serve as a textbook or as a reference handbook. The focus of the book is on application of methods and not just theoretical description. The material is presented in the same fashion that data is approached, from collection to analysis. Particularly useful is that each chapter provides background for the topics presented; setting a context for understanding the material.

The first chapter reviews the basics of statistical sampling and how various oceanographic data elements are collected. It describes in detail the various methods used for collection and their inherent strengths and weakness. The second chapter moves from collecting the data to processing and data presentation; including calibration, interpolation and a variety of presentation formats. The third chapter presents the standard statistical methods and procedures for error handling. The last two chapters cover the range of methods used for spatial and time series analysis of data. This includes not only long established methods but more recent methodologies, such as wavelet transforms, as well.

A bibliography and set of appendices complement the text, making the book an all encompassing reference work. The authors have created an extensive bibliography that enables readers to follow up with more specific readings. The appendices include units in physical oceanography, a glossary of statistical terms, statistical tables, and non-uniform numbers.

Just in time !
We have no similar books in Physical Oceanography.It puts together the description of many useful techniques (including the modern ones) and it also considers pratical aspects of data collection and analysis. The textis easy to follow. The figures are very clear. Useful references are cited.Other geophysical areas can also benefit from it. Do I need to saysomething else ! ... Read more

Product Description
'Descriptive Physical Oceanography: An Introduction' 5th edition provides an introduction to descriptive (synoptic) physical oceanography for science undergraduates and early graduate students. There has been an updating of topics such as the heat budget, instruments (particularly the use of satellites), a complete revision of the material on equatorial oceanography, sea-ice physics and distribution and El Nino and information has been added on thermohaline circulation, mixing nad coral reef oceanography.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Descriptive 101:Drab but Loaded with Content
Pickard & Emery (1990) is a textbook suitable for use in college courses at any level without prerequisites.It is purely descriptive, without any pretense of touching on dynamics.It excels as the first text in a two-course sequence offering descriptive, then dynamic physical oceanography.

Satellite photographs reveal descriptive physical oceanography as a changing form of modern art.Realizing this might suggest dressing up the humble appearance of Pickard & Emery (1990) with an array of new, large and colorful illustrations.This could be a mistake.It could risk raising the book's price if the present content remains.It also could risk watering down the present content to make room for new illustrations while keeping the price under control.

Anyone who thinks dynamics replaces the Pickard & Emery (1990) approach is wrong.The oceans keep changing all scales of time and space.This suggests needs for monitoring will cause descriptive physical oceanography to always be important.Humans continue to overpopulate two thirds of the world.This speeds up ocean degradation, making monitoring even more important in the future.

Pickard & Emery (1990) excels as a compact reference book independent of courses.Its audience in this role includes anyone interested in ocean water mass characteristics and movements.

I believe Pickard & Emery (1990) misses two opportunities to be more effective.First, it fails to stress evidence (some of it shocking) the oceans are changing and in desperate need of improved monitoring.Second, it fails to direct users to sources of dramatic visual aids for on-screen use or projection.

To compare Pickard & Emery (1990) with other physical oceanography textbooks, see my reviews of Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Knauss (2005), Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Mellor (2008) and Introductory Dynamical Oceanography, Second Edition by Pickard and Pond (1983).

Excellent text book
This text supplements our lab very well, its a great book that will come in handy after class.

good PO text
Good book, however I found its pair Dynamical Oceanography by Pond to be more helpful and informative. ... Read more

Product Description
Physical Oceanography with MATLAB provides an introduction to the fundamental analytical and computational tools necessary for modeling ocean currents, focusing on partial differential equations (PDEs) of geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD). Requiring only a basic familiarity with advanced engineering mathematics, the text presents topics, such as multivariate calculus and the integral theorems of Gauss and Stokes, in the context of fluid dynamics. MATLAB® is used throughout the book in the exercises as well as in the development of the mathematics. The author discusses current research problems in the mathematical ocean modeling community and features computational projects at the end of every chapter, ranging from elementary (box models of basins) to intermediate (quasi-geostrophic and multilayer). A CD-ROM containing all MATLAB programs accompanies the text. ... Read more

Product Description

Taken from a review of the first edition in SIAM:

"This text is different from most others in that it combines several different disciplines and draws on many scientific studies in order to deduce mechanisms of ocean circulation. (…) Therefore (it) cannot be substituted, and (…) it meets its unique goals with clarity and thoroughness".

Customer Reviews (1)

The Good hand book for Maritime Industry Forecasting.
Marine Forecasting is about the Hydrodynamics. I recommend this book for Engineering professionals of Marine,NDT and other personals those involved in Underground marine projects like Oil riggs, MODU, etc.

Naseem Ahmed
Chief Executive/Researcher
Niha Merchant Marine Services
[...]

I also refer to these book for additional knowledge.

The Mechanical Universe and Beyond Program 36 Vector Fields and Hydrodynamics
Essentials of Oceanography (9th Edition)
How the Ocean Works: An Introduction to Oceanography
Marine Hydrodynamics
Essentials of Oceanography (9th Edition)
Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science

































... Read more

Product Description

This book aims to provide current scientists as well as future generations with a historical overview of the developments in physical oceanography over the last four decades. Senior scientists that have played major roles during that time contributed chapters on oceanographic observations, theory of physical oceanography and modelling.

The book illustrates how research is conducted in physical oceanography, which methods are being used, and how ideas are being communicated between the different branches in physical oceanography.

Product Description
Written by a renowned fluid dynamicist specializing in computational methods (particularly in turbulence), this introductory text addresses the subject of dynamic oceanography from a mathematical approach. The book begins with the basic equations of motion in integral form and covers such essential topics as geostropic flow, barotropic and baroclinic ocean circulations, vorticity, and the astronomical tides. Among the many appendices is one on the method of Matched Asymptotic Expansions as applied to the Gulf Stream the most modern and systematic way of looking at boundary layer problems. Problems are included at the end of each chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Admirable Work in Progress
Mellor (2008) is a textbook intended for use in college courses for upper division undergraduate and beginning graduate students.The usefulness of this book might depend on whether its users enroll in an oceanography program or in a physics department.

In oceanography programs, two common ways exist for directing an introduction to physical oceanography course.One approach does it in two courses, with description in the first semester and dynamics in the second.

Using this approach, students with almost any background including physics take the descriptive course, then those with backgrounds in physics, mathematics or engineering continue to take the dynamics course.

Mellor (2008) is not descriptive.This means Mellor (2008) could not compete with Pickard and Emery (1990).It could only fit in the second course based on dynamics.Mellor (2008) could compete with Pickard and Pond (1983).

Different users are likely to have different opinions on how well Mellor could compete with Pickard and Pond.Mellor has the advantage of having a recent publication date.It has the disadvantage of seeming unready for publication.

Someone searching on the Internet for more information on Mellor (2008) can find a single-spaced errata sheet that fills an entire page.It appears in two parts.One part bears the title Errata in First Printing and Corrected in Second Printing.The second part is longer and appears as Errata in First Printing Which Remain in Second Printing.

The first part hints at the possibility that Mellor (2008) was not ready for the first printing.The second part is longer and could turn off some prospective buyers who wonder why known errors remain in the second printing.

Mellor (2008) has a second disadvantage in competing with Pickard and Pond (1983).Mellor's book has more material at different levels of digestibility than its Pickard and Pond competitor.

Mellor (2008) also misses a chance to introduce a history of physical oceanography. This is important in Mellor's case, since it was progress in dynamics that allowed physical oceanography to flower from exploration to science.

We might expect the more specialized textbooks for small audiences to cost more than introductions.The price of Mellor (2008) suggests specialization with material above its intended level.It is about twice as expensive as Pickard and Pond (1983).

A second way of teaching introduction to physical oceanography courses brings students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, geology and biology together in a single course.For a text to be useful in this mixed-audience course, it must include a mix of descriptive and dynamic approaches.

Mellor (2008) would not be useful in such a course because it ignores descriptive approaches.This means it cannot compete with Knauss (2005), which introduces description and dynamics in a single volume.

One might wonder if the Mellor book should remove Oceanography from its title and call itself Ocean Physics.After doing this, it would be necessary to weed out errors and smooth out differing levels of understandability before continuing.After polishing the result, it might be desirable to promote making an ocean physics course available to all undergraduate physics majors worldwide, possibly using Mellor's new Ocean Physics textbook.After taking such a course as undergraduates, new graduate students in physical oceanography would have a jump start on their careers.

To compare the Mellor book with physical oceanography textbooks, see my reviews of Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Knauss (2005), Descriptive Physical Oceanography by Pickard and Emery (1990) and Introductory Dynamical Oceanography, Second Edition by Pickard and Pond (1983).
... Read more

Product Description
This title presents the systematization and description of accumulated knowledge on oceanic fronts of the Norwegian, Greenland, Barents and Bering Seas. The main fronts of the Norwegian, Greenland and Barents Seas are part of the climatic North Polar Frontal Zone (NPFZ). The work is based on numerous observational data, collected by the authors during special sea experiments directed at the investigation of physical processes and phenomena inside certain parts of the NPFZ and in the northern part of the Bering Sea, on archive data of the USSR Hydrometeocenter and other research institutions, as well as on a wide scientific literature published in Russian and Western editions.

The book contains general information on the oceanic fronts of the Subarctic Seas, brief history of their investigation, state of the knowledge, as well as detailed description of the thermohaline structure of all frontal zones in the Norwegian, Greenland, Barents and Bering Seas and of neighboring fronts of Arctic and coastal origin. Special attention is given to the study of the multifrontal character of the NPFZ and of peculiarities of its internal structure at different locations, to the description of diverse oceanic features observed in the NPFZ, as well as to some characteristics of the horizontal and vertical fine structure of hydrophysical fields in the NPFZ. The main features of the northern Bering Sea's summer ecohydrodynamics are investigated with the help of three-dimensional direct and inverse models. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume comprises the final report of the research project entitled the Dynamics of the Deep Ocean Circulation. The layered structure of the subsurface circulation, which had been predicted in the hypothetical model proposed prior to the research, is verified through Eulerian and Lagrangian measurements of current. By the use of the numerical model, the deep circulation of the Philippine Sea, which has been long supposed to be isolated from the North Pacific, is revealed to be derived in close association with that of the latter ocean. Behavior of the deep current around the equator is also clarified by numerical modeling. By the extensive use of sediment trapping technology, it becomes clear that sinking sediments play an important role in the distribution of chemical substances in the deep ocean. Graduate students in the field of oceanography will find this a good textbook. ... Read more

Product Description

Physical Oceanography of the Dying Aral Sea describes the background, present crisis state, and possible future of this peculiar inland water body from the physical oceanographic standpoint. Based on a wide range of material, a large part of which was published in Russian and has not been previously available to the international reader, the book first provides an historical overview of this unique system, which possesses both lake and sea properties.

Next, the current physical state of the lake is described, partly based on original field research and model experiments, along with the remote sensing data, model results and analyses extracted from recent literature. Next, book attempts to forecast the forthcoming state of the Aral Sea and identify plausible future scenarios. Finally, the book discusses the Aral Sea dessication viewd as a part of the global perspective.

Product Description
Polar Oceanography is an integrated synthesis of the biological, physical, geological, and chemical processes that occur in the polar oceans. The book represents the first modern interdisciplinary synthesis in this field. ... Read more