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Ocean Worlds: The story of seas on Earth and other planets
Oceans make up most of the surface of our blue planet. They may form just a sliver on the outside of the Earth, but they are very important, not only in hosting life, including the fish and other animals on which many humans depend, but in terms of their role in the Earth system, in regulating
climate, and cycling nutrients. As climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation by humans puts this precious resource at risk, it is more important than ever that we understand and appreciate the nature and history of oceans. There is much we still do not know about the story of the Earth's
oceans, and we are only just beginning to find indications of oceans on other planets.
In this book, geologists Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams consider the deep history of oceans, how and when they may have formed on the young Earth -- topics of intense current research -- how they became salty, and how they evolved through Earth history. We learn how oceans have formed and
disappeared over millions of years, how the sea nurtured life, and what may become of our oceans in the future. We encounter some of the scientists and adventurers whose efforts led to our present understanding of oceans. And we look at clues to possible seas that may once have covered parts of Mars
and Venus, that may still exist, below the surface, on moons such as Europa and Callisto, and the possibility of watery planets in other star systems.
climate, and cycling nutrients. As climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation by humans puts this precious resource at risk, it is more important than ever that we understand and appreciate the nature and history of oceans. There is much we still do not know about the story of the Earth's
oceans, and we are only just beginning to find indications of oceans on other planets.
In this book, geologists Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams consider the deep history of oceans, how and when they may have formed on the young Earth -- topics of intense current research -- how they became salty, and how they evolved through Earth history. We learn how oceans have formed and
disappeared over millions of years, how the sea nurtured life, and what may become of our oceans in the future. We encounter some of the scientists and adventurers whose efforts led to our present understanding of oceans. And we look at clues to possible seas that may once have covered parts of Mars
and Venus, that may still exist, below the surface, on moons such as Europa and Callisto, and the possibility of watery planets in other star systems.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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192 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 19, 2016
This book is in some sense similar to the book Life and death of planet Earth by Ward,but much more focussed in the seas,in the sense tha it tells the birth life and death of the Earth oceans.
The first chapters are devoted to the birth of oceans by volcanoe vents and comet impacts,the birth of life and his evolution till the to day diversification state,it says striking things,as that under mediterranean bottom there are one million cubic kilometers of salt a 5% of the previous oceans salt retired by floodings and drys in the recent million years with posible global climate consecuences because less saline waters freeze at upper temperaturas;one can think that this promote the artic banquise formation and ease ice ages .
A central chapter is on oceans pollution through warming,acidification,anoxia ,change of ocean currents,chemical pollution and trash pollution,mainly in the form of plastic,for example in great zones known as gyres engulfed by currents there are enormous amounts of floating plastic pieces till 300000 in a square kilometer;also the problem of overfishing,ocean bottom destruction by dragging nets and species extinction.
Te following chapter is on the lost of the oceans in space by increase heating of the sun and wáter molecule split in stratosphere.
The penultimate chapter is on the different fate of oceans in Venus and Mars , the hidden masses of liquid wáter in the Júpiter and Saturn moons,the possibility of life in its,the liquid methane seas of Titan, and the ice in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud.
The last chapter tells the search of exoplanets and oceans in its,being rare till today find Earth size planets with the correct amount of wáter in the continuous habitable zone of his parent star
The authors end with a words:"It would be ironic,in that very human way,to discover a wealth of strange anb bizarre oceans out in the cosmos just as we are dismantling the beautiful and unique oceans on our own doorstep.Those distant oceans are,for any foreseeable human prospects entirely unreachable."
The first chapters are devoted to the birth of oceans by volcanoe vents and comet impacts,the birth of life and his evolution till the to day diversification state,it says striking things,as that under mediterranean bottom there are one million cubic kilometers of salt a 5% of the previous oceans salt retired by floodings and drys in the recent million years with posible global climate consecuences because less saline waters freeze at upper temperaturas;one can think that this promote the artic banquise formation and ease ice ages .
A central chapter is on oceans pollution through warming,acidification,anoxia ,change of ocean currents,chemical pollution and trash pollution,mainly in the form of plastic,for example in great zones known as gyres engulfed by currents there are enormous amounts of floating plastic pieces till 300000 in a square kilometer;also the problem of overfishing,ocean bottom destruction by dragging nets and species extinction.
Te following chapter is on the lost of the oceans in space by increase heating of the sun and wáter molecule split in stratosphere.
The penultimate chapter is on the different fate of oceans in Venus and Mars , the hidden masses of liquid wáter in the Júpiter and Saturn moons,the possibility of life in its,the liquid methane seas of Titan, and the ice in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud.
The last chapter tells the search of exoplanets and oceans in its,being rare till today find Earth size planets with the correct amount of wáter in the continuous habitable zone of his parent star
The authors end with a words:"It would be ironic,in that very human way,to discover a wealth of strange anb bizarre oceans out in the cosmos just as we are dismantling the beautiful and unique oceans on our own doorstep.Those distant oceans are,for any foreseeable human prospects entirely unreachable."
July 21, 2021
A deep-time history of oceans, Ocean Worlds tells a grand, cosmic story full of fascinating science, without avoiding the underlying uncertainties. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2021...
February 18, 2024
Pleasantly surprised by the interdisciplinary scope of this book - examining ocean worlds through the lens of earth science, oceanography, biology, and astronomy. I came to the book for an overview of other planetary bodies with oceans, however, it is mainly focused on Earth. Still, discussions of the formation of Earth’s oceans, physical processes like currents and climate, and the origins of life are applicable to those with an interest in astronomy. I also appreciate the biographies of influential scientists involved in ocean studies to add a human side to the work. A pleasantly surprising poignant description of the end of Earth’s oceans, tapping into an intrinsic feeling of care and concern over the fate of our planet even beyond our own existence.
July 26, 2015
Lots of up-to-date information and theories about the history, evolution and future development of the earth's oceans. A chapter on current threats to the oceans systems is delivered with the expected hand-wringing. Some fascinating data of oceans of other planets in the solar system, whether of water or hydrocarbons, and some current developments in the search for water on exo-solar planets. I would have got much more from this book if I had not read it a chapter every-other-day or so, but had instead sat down and read it in one or two days.
June 15, 2020
Popular science books such as this often have to find the balance between ensuring the reader remains engaged whilst not oversimplifying the content. Ocean Worlds is simultaneously well written, with interesting and engaging prose as well as having a wealth of scientific content.
The book is actually very ambitious in it's scope; it starts right at the formation of our Solar System, and examines how our Oceans were formed and evolved over the millennia. It touches on the evolution of ocean chemistry through the epochs, as well as how marine life grew and changed along with the oceans. Naturally, the very recent history of the oceans is heavily influenced by the exploits of the human race. This is covered in great detail, which makes for very stark reading, however the authors approach the subject with very thoughtful and measured insight.
Perhaps most interesting however were the chapters covering the oceans on other planets and moons. Whether it be the oceanic remains on Mars, or the bizarre ocean of liquid hydrocarbons on Saturn's moon, Titan. Finally, it turns to the topic of potential oceans on distant extrasolar planets, as well as the observation techniques used in the relatively new field of exo-oceanography.
The book is actually very ambitious in it's scope; it starts right at the formation of our Solar System, and examines how our Oceans were formed and evolved over the millennia. It touches on the evolution of ocean chemistry through the epochs, as well as how marine life grew and changed along with the oceans. Naturally, the very recent history of the oceans is heavily influenced by the exploits of the human race. This is covered in great detail, which makes for very stark reading, however the authors approach the subject with very thoughtful and measured insight.
Perhaps most interesting however were the chapters covering the oceans on other planets and moons. Whether it be the oceanic remains on Mars, or the bizarre ocean of liquid hydrocarbons on Saturn's moon, Titan. Finally, it turns to the topic of potential oceans on distant extrasolar planets, as well as the observation techniques used in the relatively new field of exo-oceanography.
December 7, 2020
Good up to date info. Nothing much new personally, but a good introduction to anyone who thinks the oceans are just a big blob of uninterestingness.
April 29, 2018
From the blurb:
"Water, water everywhere?
So it would seem, and not ust on our home planet, but across the Universe, In this exciting exploration of oceans, Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Willimas take us to the beginnings of oceans on the hot, young Earth and show the critical role oceans have played in plate tectonics, in the development of the Earth's climate, and in the evolution of life on the planet. There is much we still have to learn about the depths of our wold;s oceans.
Beyond the Earth, we explore possible oceans past on Mars and Venus, the ocean below the icy carapace of Euopa, and the water jets of Enceladus. Will the Earth become another Mars or Venus in the future, when its oceans have boiled away? Do the oceans of Saturn's moons harbour life - at least microbial life? And the tantalizing possibility of finding another Earth-like world with oceans beckons. Understanding oceans is central to understanding our planet, managing its future, and seeking life on other worlds."
Ocean Worlds is a well written science book that covers information and theories about the history, evolution and future development of the Earth's oceans, and then takes a look at other ocean worlds. In short, the book is as described on the "tin". The narrative is clearly written, fast paced and easy to understand but not overly simplified. Numerous illustrations, diagrams and colour photographs are included.
"Water, water everywhere?
So it would seem, and not ust on our home planet, but across the Universe, In this exciting exploration of oceans, Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Willimas take us to the beginnings of oceans on the hot, young Earth and show the critical role oceans have played in plate tectonics, in the development of the Earth's climate, and in the evolution of life on the planet. There is much we still have to learn about the depths of our wold;s oceans.
Beyond the Earth, we explore possible oceans past on Mars and Venus, the ocean below the icy carapace of Euopa, and the water jets of Enceladus. Will the Earth become another Mars or Venus in the future, when its oceans have boiled away? Do the oceans of Saturn's moons harbour life - at least microbial life? And the tantalizing possibility of finding another Earth-like world with oceans beckons. Understanding oceans is central to understanding our planet, managing its future, and seeking life on other worlds."
Ocean Worlds is a well written science book that covers information and theories about the history, evolution and future development of the Earth's oceans, and then takes a look at other ocean worlds. In short, the book is as described on the "tin". The narrative is clearly written, fast paced and easy to understand but not overly simplified. Numerous illustrations, diagrams and colour photographs are included.
April 5, 2024
This popular science nonfiction book about oceans on Earth and elsewhere in our universe is really well-written. Geologists Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams convey engaging scientific discussions in a concise and relatable style. This book is not just for those with scientific degrees, but can also be fascinating for those interested in popular science, science fiction, astrophysics, oceanography, geology, and space exploration and who have at least a high school scientific understanding.
I ordered this after seeing a copy at Oxford University Press' exhibit booth at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024 in New Orleans, LA, and I'm glad I did! I'm definitely interested in other books by these authors now, and will be thinking about and referencing this often. I am able to appreciate this perspective in light of what science has learned since this book's 2014 publication.
The book's cover and description imply that this includes 50% content about our oceans and 50% about oceans on other planets, whereas it's actually only 20% about oceans of other worlds, so I rate this book 4/5 stars for having misleading marketing. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this nearly as much as I do "The Beach Book: Science of the Shore" by Carl H. Hobbs, so I still recommend this to anyone intrigued by these topics.
I ordered this after seeing a copy at Oxford University Press' exhibit booth at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024 in New Orleans, LA, and I'm glad I did! I'm definitely interested in other books by these authors now, and will be thinking about and referencing this often. I am able to appreciate this perspective in light of what science has learned since this book's 2014 publication.
The book's cover and description imply that this includes 50% content about our oceans and 50% about oceans on other planets, whereas it's actually only 20% about oceans of other worlds, so I rate this book 4/5 stars for having misleading marketing. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this nearly as much as I do "The Beach Book: Science of the Shore" by Carl H. Hobbs, so I still recommend this to anyone intrigued by these topics.
December 26, 2017
Lots of facts but most importantly, clear as well as personable and entertaining story telling not just about Oceans, but their planetary context.
Great fun and an awe inspiring toe hold into trying to understand and have some sense of geological time.
Great fun and an awe inspiring toe hold into trying to understand and have some sense of geological time.
August 22, 2021
Excellent, excellent, excellent. A great tour de force on the science of water in our planet's oceans. The authors present amazing facts about geology, chemistry, biology and astonomy.
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May 22, 2015551.46 Z22 2014
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews