Fhe blue machine; how the ocean works

   

Title of the book: The blue machine; how the ocean works 

Author: Helen Czerski 

Publisher: W.W. Norton

Publishing Date: 2023

ISBN: 9781324006718 

Summary:

A scientist’s exploration of the "ocean engine"―the physics behind the ocean’s systems―and why it matters. All of Earth’s oceans, from the equator to the poles, are a single engine powered by sunlight, driving huge flows of energy, water, life, and raw materials. In The Blue Machine , physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski illustrates the mechanisms behind this defining feature of our planet, voyaging from the depths of the ocean floor to tropical coral reefs, estuaries that feed into shallow coastal seas, and Arctic ice floes. Through stories of history, culture, and animals, she explains how water temperature, salinity, gravity, and the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates all interact in a complex dance, supporting life at the smallest scale―plankton―and the largest―giant sea turtles, whales, humankind. From the ancient Polynesians who navigated the Pacific by reading the waves, to permanent residents of the deep such as the Greenland shark that can live for hundreds of years, she introduces the messengers, passengers, and voyagers that rely on interlinked systems of vast currents, invisible ocean walls, and underwater waterfalls. Most important, however, Czerski reveals that while the ocean engine has sustained us for thousands of years, today it is faced with urgent threats. By understanding how the ocean works, and its essential role in our global system, we can learn how to protect our blue machine. Timely, elegant, and passionately argued, The Blue Machine presents a fresh perspective on what it means to be a citizen of an ocean planet.

Author Info:
(From goodreads)

Helen Czerski is a physicist at University College London’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and a science presenter for BBC. She writes a monthly column for BBC Focus magazine called “Everyday Science” that was shortlisted for a Professional Publishers Association Award.

Personal Opinion:

Quite recently I started to challenge myself by reading about topics that I hadn't read or known of before. THE BLUE MACHINE seems to be a perfect representation of what I don't know and of learning a lot of fascinating facts about how the world works, in particular as it relates to the ocean. There is a lot I found clear, but also a lot I was confused about, especially in trying to understand the knowledge in context with given information. The writing and stories are definitely of passionate nature, and it's easy for the reader to get caught up with the authors ideas and tangents, in particular as it relates to creatures living in the ocean. All in all, a beautiful and hypnotic book that dares to remind readers of their planets oceans. 

This was given for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)