1. Overview: people and water; 2. Characteristics of seawater; 3. Urban ocean characteristics; 4. Governing dynamics; 5. Mass, salt and temperature 'conservation'; 6. Water level changes; 7. Estuarine and coastal ocean flows; 8. Urban meteorology; 9. Coastal processes and shoreline modification; 10. Marine pollution; 11. Coastal extreme events: the risks and the responses; 12. Coastal ocean observing systems; 13. Climate change; 14. Cities and water – building resilience; References; Index.
Describes the physics of the coastal ocean, for advanced students, researchers, urban planners, and environmental engineers.
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.
'Extremes are becoming more extreme in the most extreme places of
our planet where too much water hits us hardest: on our coasts and
along our rivers. These coastal areas increasingly urbanize,
becoming more and more vulnerable to disasters, with stronger
storms and rising sea levels. Blumberg and Bruno argue from their
inspiring perspective of hope and belief in impactful human action
that these urban hotspots along our coasts and rivers are our best
opportunity for a resilient future. Here we can turn climate risks
into real urban rewards. But this is only if - by design - we dare
to face and better understand our climate challenges, value and
manage the urban opportunities, and be radically inclusive in our
approaches to produce the best solutions and increase the
resilience of our urbanizing coastal regions. We'd better start now
with putting their words into practice!' Henk W. J. Ovink, Special
Envoy for International Water Affairs, the Netherlands
'The Urban Ocean by Blumberg and Bruno is simply amazing; it is a
very large compendium of facts, problem descriptions and deductions
concerning the near-shore ocean and inland waters close to where
many of us live. Skillfully written, it should be a valuable and
unique source for scientists, urban planners, environmental
managers and the curious. The use of equations where appropriate
will be helpful to some readers, but will not be intimidating to
those less mathematically inclined.' George Mellor, Princeton
University, New Jersey
'Over land, sea and air, we now live in an urban world. Our cities
have become ecosystems of their own, and our deltas have changed
colors, transforming from a natural green to an urban red. Our
oceans - for centuries a trusted resource in our daily lives - have
been impacted by urbanization as well. As we strive for a more
sustainable future, oceans need and deserve our attention and
respect to safeguard their viability for years to come. If not, our
way of life will be threatened with consequences never before
experienced or imagined. I commend the authors of this fantastic
and unique book that helps show us how to respect the ocean, and
better understand how we ensure a resilient and sustainable
future.' Piet Dircke, Global Leader Water Management, ARCADIS
'This is a unique and daring book on a fascinating and important
topic. The rivers, estuaries and coastal regions of our world have
lots to offer. They have therefore become increasingly urbanized.
Humans have become a geophysical and a geopolitical force. The
concept of The Urban Ocean explores and explains the formulae that
govern the physics of the ocean and brings people and their
habitats fully into the equation. The book bravely links physics
and engineering to social studies and behavioral science. Written
from an action perspective, it pairs the complex dynamics of our
contemporary urbanized deltas with a globally emerging notion and
movement of resilience engineering.' Theo Toonen, Universiteit
Twente, the Netherlands
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