The Urban Ocean

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.

Author Biography

Alan F. Blumberg is an urban oceanographer who studies the interaction between cities and their offshore coastal waters. He is co-founder of Jupiter, a Silicon Valley startup company deeply committed to the practical application of the world’s best hydroscience, weather prediction and climate modeling. The Princeton Ocean Model, developed by Blumberg and George Mellor, is utilized by scientists and institutions throughout the world. For fifteen years, he was George Meade Bond Professor of Ocean Engineering and Director of the Davidson Laboratory at Stevens Institute of Technology where he led several major studies to predict and assess storm flooding events. He is the recipient of the 2001 Karl Emil Hilgard Hydraulic Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the 2007 Denny Medal from the Institute of Marine Engineering. A Fellow of both the American Meteorological Society and the American Society of Civil Engineers, Dr Blumberg is the author of more than 150 journal articles. Because of his extensive research expertise, he is highly sought after by the media during unusual weather conditions. Michael S. Bruno is Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Hawaii, Manoa and a Visiting Professor in Mechanical Engineering at University College London. He is the author of more than 100 technical publications regarding coastal dynamics, ocean observation systems, and community resilience. He has served on numerous advisory committees, including Chairing the Marine Board of the National Academies. A Fulbright Scholar, Dr Bruno is also a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He received the Denny Medal from the Institute of Marine Engineering in 2007, the Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research in 1991, and the Outstanding Service Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1988.