Understanding the Sea

About this book

The sea is not just a huge body of salt water. It is acted upon by various physical and chemical factors. These combines to form a complex web which takes scientists many years to unravel. Understanding the Sea covers a wide range of subjects, from winds, waves, tsunamis, tides, and currents to biological phenomena like biorhythm and bioluminescence to seamanship and maritime lore written in a simple language and easily understood by the layperson who is not conversant with basic sciences.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Prologue

Introduction
History of Marine Biology and Oceanography
The Tools of the Trade
Anatomy of the Sea (Regions of the Sea)
Life in the Sea Plankton
Life in the Sea - Nekton
Life in the Sea - Benthos
Playing Hide-and-Seek (Camouflage)
Midnight's Children (Bioluminescence)
Body Clocks (Biorhythms)
Why do Fish Drink? (Osmotic Regulation)
The Not-so-Silent Sea (Noises in the Sea)
Little Grains of Sand (Beaches)
Playing about with Beaches (Beach Processes)
The Soft Sea-bed (Sea-bottom Sediments)
The Anatomy of Coral Reefs (Coral Reef Topography and Formation)
Where the Twain do Meet (Estuaries)
Wealth from the Sea (Marine Resources)
Methods of Fishing
Energy from the Sea (Electricity Generation)
Windmills of the Gods (Winds)
Rhythms of the Sea (Tides)
The Sea in Motion (Waves)
Waves Inside the Sea (Undersea Waves)
The Killer Wave (Tsunami)
Rivers in the Sea (Surface Currents)
Deep Circulation in the Oceans
Silent Waterfalls in the Sea (Upwelling)
The Salty Sea (Chemistry of Sea Water)
The Healing Sea (Marine Pharmacy)
The Sea-level Paradox
The Name Game (Biological Nomenclature)
What's in a Name? (Taxonomy and Nomenclature)
The Ladder of Life (Biological Classification)
King Neptune's Festival of Lights (Unusual Phenomena)
The Silent Sentinels (Lighthouses)
About b(u)oys and gulls (Navigation buoys)
Why do people drown? (Drowning accidents and their Prevention)
Mapping the Sea (Nautical Charts)
The Wandering Continents (Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift)
Ship 'Watches' (Time on Board Ship)
Communication at Sea
'A' is for Anchor, 'B' is for Boat (Maritime Miscellany)

Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Further Reading
Appendix
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

B.F. Chhapgar, a renowned marine biologist, was curator of the Taraporevala Aquarium in the 1950s and 1960s and later, Research Officer-in-charge of the Taraporevala Marine Biological Station before joining Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.