The Tide. the science and stories behind the greatest force on Earth
by Aldersey-William, Hugh
pub by - W.W. Norton adn Co, NY - 2016, - isbn 978 393 35480 5 pbk - - LCCN = 2016018456 - - Contents p. 9-10 - - list of illustrations p. 11 - - Authors Note p. 13 - - Introductio p.17-26 - - Glossary p. 341 - - Acknowledgements p.343-346 - - Index p. 357-368 - - total book length 368 p.
This book starts slowly and very simply - too simply. Then begins to display the true complexity of tides and the history of tides. Since the Mediterranean Sea practically does not have tides there is only confusing writing from classical sources about tides. The theories were almost laughable, but then untel Issac Newton the discovery of gravity and what it was was not in scientific thought process. After Newton understanding of the mechanics of tides was studied.
The common modern idea about tides is not clearly presented. They are gravity pulling sideways on the oceans not necessarily the direct pull directly outward. Another complication is that the moon tracks around the earth in a slightly angular path and for the whole cycle for the moon to come back to the same place as it was before takes a cycle of some 19.5 years.
Measuring the tide is also more difficult than one might expect. The actual earth surface changes over time, mostly in areas where there is glacial rebound where after the great glaciers from the most recent ice age melted the lack of the weight of the ice being removed allows the actual crust of the earth to rise. The solid crust of the earth actually floats on the more liquid-like underlayment of the earth.
Many places of the surface of the earth have very little tidal movement, such as most of the tropical area part of the Pacific Ocean, where the weather causes more change in the height of the water than proper moon and sun effects.
The latter part of the book addresses the effects of global climate change and the speed and lack of speed of the rise of the oceans.
This is a worthy read. You will be rewarded after you get through the simple and slow beginning.
~ 2018-12-18 ~

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