Customer Reviews

Introduction to Physical Oceanography (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read the majority of this text for a physical oceanography course and found extremely helpful for understanding how the earth, not just the oceans, work to create everything from terrestial weather systems to deep water conveyer belts. As a marine biologist, one with a sound physical and mathematical background, I found this text a excellent reference for factors to consider when doing studies in the ocean. It is all too easy for some biologists to disregard certain forces acting on an organism or system, and focus solely on that organism or system itself. Vital components such as Reynolds numbers, tidal and Coriolis forces and ocean stratification greatly affects how organisms interact and adapt in their environments.
I believe all marine biologists should have a general physical oceanography background and this text provides sound knowledge and well written and derived equations in an understandble format that even a non-physical scientist should be able to comprehend.

Knauss (2005) is a textbook suitable for use in college courses for upper division undergraduate and beginning graduate students. In an oversimplified way, two ways exist for directing an introduction to physical oceanography course. One approach uses two courses, with the first one descriptive and the second based on dynamics.

Using this approach, students with backgrounds in any field can take the first course, with those having backgrounds in mathematics, physics or engineering taking the second one.

Knauss (2005) does not fit in this two-step approach. It is short on description for a semester-long course and short on dynamics for a course of the same length. Because Knauss (2005) does not fit in the two-step approach, criticizing Knauss (2005) for its weakness in either description or dynamics has little meaning.

A second way of teaching an introduction to physical oceanography brings students with backgrounds in physics, chemistry, geology or biology together in a single course. Knauss (2005) does fit in this single-step approach. It allows students using it to step into dynamics in an easy and graceful way. It also has enough description to allow students to understand why we need dynamics to explain what description reveals. A disappointing side of Knauss (2005) is its lack of a chapter on the history of physical oceanography. While other branches of science took centuries to develop, physical oceanography went from nothing in 1893 to part of modern science in 1914, an interval of just 21 years!

To compare Knauss (2005) with other physical oceanography textbooks, see my reviews of Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Mellor (2008), Descriptive Physical Oceanography by Pickard and Emery (1990) and Introductory Dynamical Oceanography, Second Edition by Pickard and Pond (1983).

My opinion about this text is a excellent book from beginner students in the sea sciences. It have the foundaments of the Physics in the sea: Water masses, salinity, temperature, tides, waves, upwelling, sinking, currents in the ocean, motion equations and tables to computer some properties of the sea water. The book index is pefectly order for any students with the background knowledge in chemistry, physics and mathematics. The autor explain very good the properties of the sea water in the first chapter, specially, the concepts of salinity, "in situ" temperature and potencial temperature, density, sound velocity and relationship between them. The motion equations are excellenty decribed, separating the differents terms as gravity, density, Coriolis and friction. All basic principles are related in this text but they need refresh with new standards in the Oceanography.

This intro to physical oceanography is both approachable and easy-to-read, just like a good intro should be. I would recommend this text to anyone who wants to learn more about what drives ocean circulation. Potential readers should be beware that physical oceanography is, at its core, a quantitative science and this text reflects this. If you really want to follow the text, be prepared to break out your calculus book, a pencil and some paper.

Knauss provides a very readable text that includes the topics that are traditionally covered by a one semester course in introductory physical oceanography. The author includes the appropriate mathematical expressions without overburdening the reader with difficult or extensive notation. There are certainly other texts that fill that need. Knauss takes credit for what the text accomplishes, which is considerable, but also takes resposibility for the limitations of the text.

This is a very old book but it gives a very good introduction for people who are not familiar with the field. The explanations are very detailed.

Very informative and easy to read.

Knauss includes mathematical formula derivation if you need more of a challenge, but also includes simple explanations of many physical processes within the ocean.

Great for both beginners and the more-experienced oceanographers out there!

Shame it's so hard to get hold of (out of print in UK).

This book is really a "Gentle Intro to PO". The material is well organized and coherently presented. The book, however, is really a survey of PO rather than a solid introductory text (which doesn't really exist, btw); suitable for non-quantitative or non-physics oriented reader. With this book Dr. Knauss makes PO accessible to a wider audience,... which has never been done before!

The book came on time and its a good book and is helping me in my course.

My opinion about this text is a excellent book from beginner students in the sea sciences. It have the foundaments of the Physics in the sea: Water masses, salinity, temperature, tides, waves, upwelling, sinking, currents in the ocean, motion equations and tables to computer some properties of the sea water. The book index is pefectly order for any students with the background knowledge in chemistry, physics and mathematics. The autor explain very good the properties of the sea water in the first chapter, specially, the concepts of salinity, "in situ" temperature and potencial temperature, density, sound velocity and relationship between them. The motion equations are excellenty decribed, separating the differents terms as gravity, density, Coriolis and friction. All basic principles are related in this text but they need refresh with new standards in the Oceanography.