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Very Short Introductions #621
Tides: A Very Short Introduction
The tide is the greatest synchronised movement of matter on our planet. Every drop of seawater takes part in tidal motion, driven by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. At the coast, we see the tide as a twice-daily rise and fall of sea level that moves the edge of the sea up and down a beach or cliff-face. In some places, the tide is small but at others it can rise in a few hours by the height of a three storey building; it then has to be treated with great respect by those who live and work by the sea.
In this Very Short Introduction David George Bowers and Emyr Martyn Roberts explore what we know about the tides. Blending clear explanations of well known tidal phenomena with recent insights in the deep ocean and coastal seas, Bowers and Roberts use examples from around the world, to tell the story of the tide, considering its nature and causes, its observation and prediction, and unusual tides and their relevance. They explore why tides have attracted the attention of some of the world's greatest scientists, from the initial challenge of explaining why there are two tides a day when the moon and sun pass overhead just once; a problem that was solved by Isaac Newton. In the 19th century, scientists unravelled the rhythms of the tide; good tidal predictions in the form of tide tables were then possible. The predictions were made on beautiful tide predicting machines constructed of brass and mahogany, some of which can still be seen in maritime museums. In the 20th century, the
importance of tides as mixers of sea water became evident. As Bowers and Roberts explore, tidal mixing of the ocean is essential for maintaining its deep circulation, a key part of the climate-control system of our planet. In inshore waters, tidal mixing enhances biological productivity, influences sea temperature and turbidity and creates dramatic features such as maelstroms and tidal bores. In the 21st century, space probes are examining the effects of tidal processes on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn and the possibility of tidally-heated liquid oceans with their own ecosystems. Looking to the cutting edge of tidal research, Bowers and Roberts also consider how we can study the role of the tide in the geological and biological evolution of our own planet with innovative computer models.
ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
In this Very Short Introduction David George Bowers and Emyr Martyn Roberts explore what we know about the tides. Blending clear explanations of well known tidal phenomena with recent insights in the deep ocean and coastal seas, Bowers and Roberts use examples from around the world, to tell the story of the tide, considering its nature and causes, its observation and prediction, and unusual tides and their relevance. They explore why tides have attracted the attention of some of the world's greatest scientists, from the initial challenge of explaining why there are two tides a day when the moon and sun pass overhead just once; a problem that was solved by Isaac Newton. In the 19th century, scientists unravelled the rhythms of the tide; good tidal predictions in the form of tide tables were then possible. The predictions were made on beautiful tide predicting machines constructed of brass and mahogany, some of which can still be seen in maritime museums. In the 20th century, the
importance of tides as mixers of sea water became evident. As Bowers and Roberts explore, tidal mixing of the ocean is essential for maintaining its deep circulation, a key part of the climate-control system of our planet. In inshore waters, tidal mixing enhances biological productivity, influences sea temperature and turbidity and creates dramatic features such as maelstroms and tidal bores. In the 21st century, space probes are examining the effects of tidal processes on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn and the possibility of tidally-heated liquid oceans with their own ecosystems. Looking to the cutting edge of tidal research, Bowers and Roberts also consider how we can study the role of the tide in the geological and biological evolution of our own planet with innovative computer models.
ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
176 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2020
15 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 20, 2021
Tides are a nerdy hobby of mine. The book provides information on tidal measurements, predictions, bores and locations (including in the solar system) and much more.
The first half is mostly physics and mathematics (yikes) whereas the second half is more interesting general facts which I enjoyed more.
If you want to know why foam flows down the middle of some rivers or find out how tidal bores work, you will enjoy this book.
The 3 star rating is due to the advanced level of understanding/concentration required for the book. It is promoted as an introduction but it was far more complicated for beginners (like me). I would recommend this to students studying tides.
The first half is mostly physics and mathematics (yikes) whereas the second half is more interesting general facts which I enjoyed more.
If you want to know why foam flows down the middle of some rivers or find out how tidal bores work, you will enjoy this book.
The 3 star rating is due to the advanced level of understanding/concentration required for the book. It is promoted as an introduction but it was far more complicated for beginners (like me). I would recommend this to students studying tides.
January 3, 2021
This book was a challenging read and quite physics heavy for those new to the topic. I have two degrees in physics and still found certain explanations coming a bit too quickly without sufficient clarification for someone without a similar background knowledge.
Very interesting book to read! I learned a lot and found myself frequently putting the book down to dive deeper into certain topics/themes within. A challenging but fun read!
Very interesting book to read! I learned a lot and found myself frequently putting the book down to dive deeper into certain topics/themes within. A challenging but fun read!
January 4, 2022
It's complicated. Very complicated. I probably could have done better with more simplified explanations but I learned enough to answer some basic questions. A better resource if the physics presented here is at a level that is not helpful in understanding may be to check out
oceanservice.noaa.gov
oceanservice.noaa.gov
June 17, 2024
It's a little introduction about tides, which I would recommend if the topic creates some confusion!
I found it informative and very easy to understand!
I found it informative and very easy to understand!
October 28, 2025
A very well written book. As a mathematician I would have appreciated a lot more mathematics.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews