Mysterious Ocean
This book provides an introduction to ocean sciences that is engaging, evocative and accessible to non-experts interested in marine geoscience, while sparking readers' interest in important unsolved mysteries in marine science. The scope of the book is quite broad, but focuses on the physical ocean and its geological evolution, including the author's experiences working as an oceanographer over the last thirty years.
Across ten chapters, the book traces the origins of the ocean from its formation 4 billion years ago, reviews the discoveries of the theory of plate tectonics, the ice ages and the great ocean conveyor, and discusses seafloor features (canyons, seamounts, trenches, abyssal plains, etc.), how they formed and their current environmental issues. The book concludes with a prognosis for the future ocean we might expect with global climate change and other human impacts.
I have worked in the field of marine geology and science management for over 30 years and published over 100 scientific papers.
I taught marine geology at the University of Sydney and conducted research on UK estuaries, the Great Barrier Reef, the Fly River Delta (Papua New Guinea) and Antarctica. I worked for 20 years for Australia’s national geoscience agency as a scientist and manager.
In 2014 I was appointed Managing Director of GRID-Arendal, a UNEP collaborating centre. Apart from managing all of GRID-Arendal’s amazing activities, my interests include environmental science and mapping seafloor geomorphology to provide tools to manage the global ocean environment. I also enjoy sailing and playing the bagpipes.
Contact
I'd love to hear from you! Get in touch today.
- petertharris@gmail.com
- @PeterHarrisGRID