Rachel Carson traces the geological origins of the oceans, detailing the cooling of the earth’s crust and the ancient rains that filled the basins. She examines the bathymetry of the deep sea floor, the chemistry of salt water, and the mechanics of surface waves and tides. The text explains the biological rhythms of the plankton layer and the life cycles of deep-sea organisms that navigate eternal darkness. Carson focuses on the physical processes of island formation and the influence of ocean currents on global climate patterns and terrestrial weather systems.
Environmentalists and students of marine biology read this to understand the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems and atmospheric changes. The reader gains a foundational knowledge of oceanography and the historical development of the seabed. It provides a technical yet accessible explanation of how underwater topographic features, such as the mid-ocean ridges and abyssal plains, govern the movement of water. Those interested in the history of science find an account of how oceanic exploration shaped modern maritime knowledge before the era of deep-sea submersibles.
- Published
- 1951
- Language
- EN
