An Introduction to the Chemistry of the Sea

About this book

Fully updated and expanded, this new edition provides students with an accessible introduction to marine chemistry. It highlights geochemical interactions between the ocean, solid earth, atmosphere and climate, enabling students to appreciate the interconnectedness of Earth's processes and systems and elucidates the huge variations in the oceans' chemical environment, from surface waters to deep water. Written in a clear, engaging way, An Introduction to the Chemistry of the Sea provides students in oceanography, marine chemistry and biogeochemistry with the fundamental tools they need for a strong understanding of ocean chemistry. Appendices present information on seawater properties, key equations and constants for calculating oceanographic processes. New to this edition are end-of-chapter problems for students to put theory into practice, summaries to allow easy review of material and a comprehensive glossary. Supporting online resources include solutions to problems and figures from An Introduction to the Chemistry of the Sea.

Contents

Preface

1. Introduction
2. The water in seawater
3. Salinity, chlorinity, conductivity, and density
4. Major constituents of seawater
5. Simple gases
6. Salts in solution
7. Carbon dioxide
8. Nutrients
9. Trace metals and other minor elements
10. Radioactive clocks
11. Organic matter in the sea
12. Anoxic marine environments
13. Exchanges at the boundaries
14. Chemical extraction of useful substances from the sea
15. Geochemical history of the oceans

Appendix A. The chemical elements
Appendix B. Symbols, units, and nomenclature
Appendix C. Physical properties of seawater
Appendix D. Gases
Appendix E. Carbon dioxide
Appendix F. Dissociation constants and pH scales
Appendix G. Solubility of calcium carbonate
Appendix H. Effects of pressure
Appendix I. Radioactive decay
Appendix J. Geochemical reservoirs, and some rates
Appendix K. Sound absorption

Glossary
References
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Michael E. Q. Pilson is Emeritus Professor of Oceanography at the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island and has taught a course on chemical oceanography for most of the past 40 years. For some years, he directed the Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory at Rhode Island, conducting experimental study of biogeochemistry in shallow coastal waters. Professor Pilson has published around 90 papers on chemical, physical, biological, ecological and geological aspects of oceanography and has advised students in chemical and biological areas. His broad range of experience has shaped his oceanography course to be accessible and interesting to students with diverse backgrounds, interests and professional goals.