How the Ocean Works

Mark Denny is the John B. and Jean DeNault Professor of Marine Sciences at Stanford University. His books include "Chance in Biology" and "Air and Water" (both Princeton).

• List of Illustrations ix List of Tables xiii Preface xv Chapter 1: Discovering the Oceans 1 Chapter 2: Ocean Basins 33 Chapter 3: Seawater 54 Chapter 4: Photosynthesis and Primary Production 68 Chapter 5: The Flow of Energy, Carbon, and Nutrients 106 Chapter 6: The Dilemma of the Two-Layered Ocean 145 Chapter 7: The Coriolis Effect and Its Consequences 173 Chapter 8: Winds and Currents 204 Chapter 9: Solutions to the Dilemma 233 Chapter 10: Complexity: Carbon, Iron, and the Atmosphere 251 Chapter 11: Fisheries 276 Chapter 12: An Invitation 299 Index 305

Honorable Mention for the 2008 PROSE Award in Earth Sciences, Association of American Publishers "How the Ocean Works is as ambitious a title as this reviewer's freshman biology text, intimidatingly titled Life. However, much to his credit, Denny, not only acknowledges this fact, but manages to turn it to his advantage... How the Ocean Works is an invaluable addition to any undergraduate or graduate library where even a single marine-focused class is taught."--S.E. Brazer, Choice "The book is a very good read, well written, illustrated and explained, kept clear for a scientific layman, but also with necessary rigour in the Appendices associated with key chapters for those wanting that bit more physical or mathematical background."--Grant Bigg, The Geographical Journal "Steve Vogel describes Mark Denny as the ultimate autodidact, and teaching something, whether to oneself or to one's porch mates, is the ultimate learning approach and one that promises to produce a very readable introduction to oceanography. The book largely delivered on that promise and on my high expectations both Denny's preface and his prior works."--Quarterly Review of Biology "How the Ocean Works is a well written, thoroughly enjoyable book that comfortably bridges the roles of introductory oceanography textbook and fireside (or more appropriately, seaside) reading. Although its nontraditional coverage of ocean science may preclude it from use as the primary text in some classrooms, it will be a valuable resource for both teachers and fans of the world's oceans."--Peter Drzewiecki, American Biology Teacher "While explicitly designed as a textbook, How the Ocean Works is sure to be of interest to anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the bodies of water that cover 71 percent of the earth's surface and make up 99 percent of the volume of the planet that is capable of supporting life."--Civil Engineering "Denny gives readers the conceptual building blocks needed to develop a coherent picture of the living ocean. How the Ocean Works is an indispensable resource that teaches readers how to think about the ocean--its biology, mechanics, and conservation."--World Book Industry