Chemistry in the Marine Environment

by Harrison, Roy M.; Hester, R. E.; Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain)

• ISBN13: 9780854042609
• ISBN10: 0854042601
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-05-01
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Summary

The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth's surface to an average depth of almost 4000 metres. It is therefore not surprising that exchanges that occur between ocean and atmosphere exert major influences on the global climate. In addition, there is great variety within the expanses of the ocean, including large temperature differences, and enormous biodiversity brought about by the great chemical diversity within the marine environment. Written by international experts in the field, Chemistry in the Marine Environment offers a multidisciplinary and authoritative review of this important topic. Included is a review of the opportunities and challenges in developing new pharmaceuticals from the sea and an examination of contamination and pollution in the marine environment, which is a cause of great concern world-wide. The international perspective of this book will engage the interest and attention of a wide readership, from chemical oceanographers to policymakers, from students in environmental science to those in oceanography programmes.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Overview	1	(1)
William L. Miller
Introduction	1	(1)
The Complex Medium Called Seawater	2	(4)
Spatial Scales and the Potential for Change	6	(5)
Summary	11	(2)
The Oceans and Climate	13	(20)
Grant R. Bigg
Introduction	13	(4)
Oceanic Gases and the Carbon Cycle	17	(8)
Oceanic Gases and Cloud Physics	25	(2)
Feedback Processes Involving Marine Chemistry and Climate	27	(3)
Future Prospects	30	(3)
The Use of U-Th Series Radionuclides and Transient Tracers in Oceanography: an Overview	33	(22)
Peter W. Swarzenski
D. Reide Corbett
Joseph M. Smoak
Brent A. McKee
Introduction	33	(2)
Radioactive Decay	35	(3)
Sources and Sinks	38	(4)
Oceanic Behavior	42	(13)
Pharmaceuticals from the Sea	55	(26)
Raymond J. Andersen
David E. Williams
Introduction	55	(5)
Opportunities in the Oceans	60	(8)
Challenges Involved in Developing a `Drug from the Sea'	68	(4)
Some Success Stories	72	(6)
Future Prospects	78	(3)
Contamination and Pollution in the Marine Environment	81	(12)
Stephen J. de Mora
An Overview of Marine Pollution	81	(2)
Selected Case Studies	83	(6)
Mitigation of Marine Pollution	89	(3)
Summary	92	(1)
Subject Index	93