Product Description

This book 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

• Amazon Sales Rank: #816565 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 292 pages

Review
'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, the host of direct quotations and reproduction of many contemporary photographs and figures gives this beautifully produced book an enchanting period flavour.' New Scientist ' ... 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 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 has written a wonderful book that combines history and science with scholarship ... this is an authoritative work ... quite an achievement.' Astrophysics and Geophysics ' ... should appeal to a broad range of readers curious about the evolution of this science.' Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 'David Cartwright has written a wonderful book that combines history and science with scholarship ... this is an authoritative work and a rattling good read, quite an achievement.' David Gubbins, Astrophysics and Geophysics 'Cartwright has identified a long-standing need for a comprehensive history of tidal research and he has filled that need admirably. He offers us an in-depth history that covers the entire subject from antiquity to modern times ... Cartwright has written a much-needed academic history of tidal science that will serve historians as an important reference work and starting point for future detailed investigations into individual aspects of tidal research.' Terry Mahoney, The Observatory

Review
‘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, the host of direct quotations and reproduction of many contemporary photographs and figures gives this beautifully produced book an enchanting period flavour.’ New Scientist

‘ … 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 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 has written a wonderful book that combines history and science with scholarship … this is an authoritative work … quite an achievement.’ Astrophysics and Geophysics

‘ … should appeal to a broad range of readers curious about the evolution of this science.’ Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

‘David Cartwright has written a wonderful book that combines history and science with scholarship … this is an authoritative work and a rattling good read, quite an achievement.’ David Gubbins, Astrophysics and Geophysics

‘Cartwright has identified a long-standing need for a comprehensive history of tidal research and he has filled that need admirably. He offers us an in-depth history that covers the entire subject from antiquity to modern times … Cartwright has written a much-needed academic history of tidal science that will serve historians as an important reference work and starting point for future detailed investigations into individual aspects of tidal research.’ Terry Mahoney, The Observatory

Synopsis
This book 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.