The Urban Ocean
The Interaction of Cities with Water

Describes the physics of the coastal ocean, for advanced students, researchers, urban planners, and environmental engineers.

Alan F. Blumberg (Author), Michael S. Bruno (Author)

9781316642207, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 November 2018

248 pages, 105 b/w illus. 16 colour illus.
24.6 x 17.4 x 1.3 cm, 0.51 kg

'This is a unique and daring book on a fascinating and important topic. The rivers, estuaries and coastal regions of our world have lots to offer. They have therefore become increasingly urbanized. Humans have become a geophysical and a geopolitical force. The concept of The Urban Ocean explores and explains the formulae that govern the physics of the ocean and brings people and their habitats fully into the equation. The book bravely links physics and engineering to social studies and behavioral science. Written from an action perspective, it pairs the complex dynamics of our contemporary urbanized deltas with a globally emerging notion and movement of resilience engineering.' Theo Toonen, Universiteit Twente, the Netherlands

This book introduces the new discipline of urban oceanography, providing a deeper understanding of the physics of the coastal ocean in an urban setting. The authors explore how the coastal ocean impacts with the humans who live, work and play along its shores; and in turn how human activities impact the health and dynamics of the coastal ocean. Fundamental topics covered include: the governing dynamical equations; tidal and circulation processes; variation of salinity and freshwater fluxes; watershed pollutants; observing systems; and climate change. Bridging the gaps between the fields of engineering, physical and social sciences, economics, and policy, this book is for anyone who wishes to learn about the physics, chemistry, and biology of coastal waters. It will support an introductory course on urban oceanography at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level, and will also prove invaluable as a reference text for researchers, professionals, coastal urban planners, and environmental engineers.

1. Overview: people and water
2. Characteristics of seawater
3. Urban ocean characteristics
4. Governing dynamics
5. Mass, salt and temperature 'conservation'
6. Water level changes
7. Estuarine and coastal ocean flows
8. Urban meteorology
9. Coastal processes and shoreline modification
10. Marine pollution
11. Coastal extreme events: the risks and the responses
12. Coastal ocean observing systems
13. Climate change
14. Cities and water – building resilience
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Marine engineering [TTS], Civil engineering, surveying & building [TN], Urban & municipal planning [RPC], Oceanography [seas RBKC], Environment law [LNKJ], Environmental economics [KCN]