The Beach Book - by Carl Hobbs (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Waves and tides, wind and storms, sea-level rise and shore erosion: these are the forces that shape our beaches, and beach lovers of all stripes can benefit from learning more about how these coastal processes work. With animation and clarity, The Beach Book tells sunbathers why beaches widen and narrow, and helps boaters and anglers understand why tidal inlets migrate. It gives home buyers insight into erosion rates and provides natural-resource managers and interested citizens with rich information on beach nourishment and coastal-zone development. And for all of us concerned about the long-term health of our beaches, it outlines the latest scientific information on sea-level rise and introduces ways to combat not only the erosion of beaches but also the decline of other coastal habitats.

The more we learn about coastline formation and maintenance, Carl Hobbs argues, the better we can appreciate and cultivate our shores. Informed by the latest research and infused with a passion for its subject, The Beach Book provides a wide-ranging introduction to the shore, and all of us who love the beach and its associated environments will find it timely and useful.

Review Quotes

...for the serious minded beachgoer...-- "Los Angeles Times"

...interesting to anyone curious about the science of the shore.-- "Library Journal"

...offers material not only for science junkies but for anyone who loves the beach experience.-- "Richmond Times-Dispatch"

a good comprehensive introduction to the shore...--Judith S. Weis "Quarterly Review of Biology"

Engaging and easy to read.... This book helps readers understand the physical processes that form that shore... Highly recommended.-- "Choice"

Fascinating phenomena -- from surf beat, edge waves and beach cusps to the dunes known as barchans -- bob through this crisply written guide to ecology and geology at the edge.-- "Nature"

It is an easy read for those who live by the shore and want a good, simple understanding of why it's there, what is going on now, and what might happen in the future...--Andrew D. Short "Oceanography"

About the Author

Carl H. Hobbs is a professor of marine science at Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William & Mary. His research interests include coastal geology and processes, the geologic history of the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding region, marine archaeology, and the environmental consequences of marine sand mining and beach nourishment. Additionally, with colleagues from the Center for Archaeological Research and the Department of Geology at William & Mary, he has investigated physical changes to Jamestown Island that have occurred since the beginning of the Holocene, when humans first inhabited the region.