The Power of the Sea Tsunamis, Storm Surges, Rogue Waves, and Our Quest to Predict Disasters

by Parker, Bruce

• ISBN13: 9780230120747
• ISBN10: 0230120741
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-13
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary

The awesome power of the earth's oceans has been in the headlines in recent years, from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (300,000 dead) to the devastation of New Orleans caused by the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina, to the huge rogue waves that have struck oil tankers and cruise ships. Bruce Parker, former Chief Scientist for the National Ocean Service, tells these stories as he explores the history of our struggle to understand the physics of the sea so we can predict when it will unleash its power against us. His wide-sweeping narrative interweaves exciting stories of unpredicted natural disasters with fascinating stories of scientific discovery, including: * Napoleon's realization about Moses and the Exodus after his own narrow escape from the dangerous tides of the Red Sea; * the critical role that tide predictions and wave forecasts played in the Allied victory on D-Day; * how the deadly storm surge that killed half a million people in Bangladesh in 1970 led to that nation's fight for independence; * how the largest tsunami in recorded history carried three fishing boats from a bay in Alaska into the Pacific Oceanand the father and son who survived to tell the tale; * how a ten-year-old English girl saved dozens of people during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and why elephants were able to save so many lives; * how the sea affects El Ninos and climate change, and whether sea level rise due to global warming will put our coasts underwater; * how today's scientists are working to predict the sea's next disaster using a vast global array of oceanographic sensorson buoys, on ships, on islands, along coasts, and on satellites to provide the huge quantities of real-time data needed by computer prediction models. This richly textured narrative, with its sweeping look at more than 1,000 years of ocean history and science, will captivate readers even beyond those already interested in the ocean, naval history, marine science, or the environment.

Author Biography

Bruce Parker first experienced the sea as a young boy working at his father's scuba diving school in the Bahamas. Over the years, he mixed, his encounters with the sea with academic training to become a world-recognized expert on the oceans. He is former Chief Scientist of the National Ocean Service for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and presently Visiting Professor at the Center for Maritime Systems at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. He has a Ph.D. in physical oceanography from The Johns Hopkins University. Among his awards are the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal and the Commodore Cooper Medal from the International Hydrographic Organization.

Table of Contents

“A fascinating exploration.”—Andrew Revkin, Dot Earth blog, The New York Times

“Examines the violent impact of the seas on human society, and our long struggle to understand them…any reader with an interest in the subject will appreciate Parker's expertise.”—Publishers Weekly

"Recommended."--Choice

"Rarely does a book written by a practicing scientist grab you like this one. Intelligent, accurate, and accessible  The Power of the Sea reads like a Believe It or Not of aquatic destruction. The largest wave in history? What did the tides have to do with the Normandy Invasion? How many people died in the Indonesian tsunami of 2004? What does “Kamikaze” have to do with the power of the sea? What really happened to Krakatoa? What should we have done about Katrina? For the answers to these and questions you never thought to ask, read Bruce Parker’s wonderful book."--Richard Ellis, author of The Empty Ocean and Tuna: A Love Story

"Parker mixes hair-raising descriptions of disasters with efforts to understand them... [and] provides a lucid, original contribution to popular-science writing."--Kirkus Reviews

“Riveting readers with analyses of catastrophes such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Parker delivers science in dramatic and digestible form.”--Booklist

 

“From the ancient tides to ingenious ways of predicting tsunamis and weighing the impact of climate change today, Bruce Parker's The Power of the Sea is an engaging and essential history of science. It’s also a terrific account of survival on our wild blue planet.”--David Helvarg, author of Saved by the Sea: A Love Story with Fish

"Bruce Parker is not only a brilliant scientist but a natural storyteller. The Power of the Sea presents the destructive nature of ocean waves in human terms.  From Napoleon's near death encounter with a raging Red Sea tide, to the vital importance of predicting tide and swell before the D-Day landings, to the individual acts of heroism during the tragic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, to the epic storm surges that continue to flood Bangladesh and Myanmar today, Parker never loses sight of the uneasy alliance between man and sea. All who play or live near the sea should read this book. Be warned, you may never look at the ocean the same way again."--John Kretschmer, author of At The Mercy of the Sea

"This richly researched, eloquent volume gives the reader a front-row seat where the action plays out. Dr. Parker’s thorough knowledge of the subject is abundantly evident and his comfortable and informative style makes this a must-read for anyone interested in the environment. The power of the sea is palpable in Dr. Parker’s treatment of a fascinating diversity of historically significant events."--Richard Spinrad, Director of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and former Technical Director to the Oceanographer of the Navy

 

"A vivid portrayal of sea disasters and the important role that the ocean has played in so many historic events. An illuminating scientific look at how we have learned to predict such disasters and what still needs to be done to safe guard us from future global calamities."--Curtis Ebbesmeyer, author of Flotsametrics and the Floating World

"Anyone who appreciates the fact that the sea remains something we cannot control will love this book from Bruce Parker. You will come away with a better understanding of why the sea will leave us in awe till the end of time."--Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel

"The Power of the Sea is the best book I have ever read about tsunamis, storm surges, or rogue waves.  It dramatically demonstrates the need to better understand the awesome power of the sea if we are to save lives and property."--Jerry Schubel, President, Aquarium of the Pacific

"In a changing world driven by the sea, it is important for everyone to understand how it works. Bruce Parker has blended history and science into a book that clearly and often dramatically explains how and why the sea will affect their lives -- now and in the future. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever been awed by the ocean."--Daniel J. Basta, Director, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries