Book Review

by Paul Ganderton

Segar DA. 1998. Introduction to Ocean Sciences. Wadsworth. pp xxiii + 497. ISBN 0 314 09705 8.

Interest in oceans is increasing and with it the demand for texts providing an overview of the topic. Segar has approached this demand in a comprehensive and unusual way. Comprehensiveness comes from the book’s topic coverage. The 19 chapters cover all the basic concepts. Interestingly, Segar starts with a small prologue on graph and data interpretation which describes the pitfalls of producing/reading data. The book proper starts with two chapters on ocean studies; the former for history, the latter dealing with methodology. Chapters 3 and 4 explore the evolution of the ocean floor and plate tectonics. The next 5 chapters cover seawater, its constituents and energy (circulation, waves and tides). Chapter 11 dealing with coasts forms a link between the ocean chapters and the remainder of the text which deals with marine life, human usage and pollution. The unusual aspect of the text is its treatment of key concepts. Rather than bury them in the text, Segar highlights them - some 17 in all - and uses them as the framework upon which the rest of the book is put. Each chapter has reference to the key concepts needed to understand the work. These concepts have a chapter devoted solely to explaining them and there is a card at the back of the text upon which are the concepts and the essential facts required. This integrating approach works very well and produces a text which sets it part from others. As regards chapter layout there are copious illustrations, initial overview, critical thinking questions throughout and at the end, summary, questions and references. In addition, references are made to the publishers’ website.

This is an excellent text whose approach marks it as different. It is well-written and easy to understand making it useful for high school student as well as teacher.