Tides: A Scientific History

by David Edgar Cartwright

Overview

This book, first published in 1998, provides a history of the study of the tides over two millennia, from the primitive ideas of the Ancient Greeks to present sophisticated space-age techniques. Tidal physics has puzzled some of the world's greatest scientists and mathematicians: amongst many others, Galileo, Descartes, Bacon, Kepler, Newton, Bernoulli, Euler, Laplace, Young, Whewell, Airy, Kelvin, G. Darwin, H. Lamb, have all contributed to our understanding of tides. The volume is amply illustrated with diagrams from historical scientific papers, photographs of artefacts, and portraits of some of the subject's leading protagonists. The history of the tides is in part the history of a broad area of science and the subject provides insight into the progress of science as a whole: this book will therefore appeal to all those interested in how scientific ideas develop. It will particularly interest specialists in oceanography, hydrography, geophysics, geodesy, astronomy and navigation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521797467
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/17/2000
Edition description:	1ST PBK
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	6.89(w) x 9.72(h) x 0.55(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction - the overall pattern of enquiry; 2. Early ideas and observations; 3. What moon maketh a full sea?; 4. Towards Newton; 5. Newton and the Prize Essayists - the 'Equilibrium' theory; 6. Measurements and empirical studies, 1650–1825; 7. Laplace and the 19th century hydrodynamics; 8. Local analysis and prediction in the 19th century; 9. Towards a map of cotidal lines; 10. Tides of the Geosphere - the birth of Geophysics; 11. Tidal researches between the World Wars; 12. 1950–80 - the impact of automatic computers; 13. The impact of instrument technology, 1960–91; 14. The impact of satellite geodesy, 1970–95; 15. Recent advances in miscellaneous topics, and final retrospect; Appendices; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...a major contribution to the history of the astronomical and geophysical sciences...[Cartwright's] description of the observations and mathematical advances that make up the history of the science of tides is clear, rigorous and enjoyable...[the] sequence of chapters takes on the rhythm of the history...a masterpiece." Nature

"...a labor of love, based on wide readings and sound judgment, and it is bound to remain the standard reference work on the subject for a long time." American Scientist

"...a synopsis of developments in the theory, observation and prediction of the tides, flavoured with illustrations from the pages of historical scientific papers, photographs and portraits...[Cartwright] writes with informed scientific judgement, authority and quiet enthusiasm." Times Literary Supplement

"David Cartwright [is] a world authority, and gives a magisterial account of how understanding has slowly replaced the mysteries of the tides. Detailed, erudite and clear." New Scientist

From the Publisher