Explore how the sea level truly responds to earth’s mass and shape, with practical insight from a landmark geophysical study.
This edition presents a rigorous look at how the ocean surface and geoid relate to the Earth’s form. It explains the fundamental ideas behind sea-level measurements, oblate shapes, and the way surface masses—like continents and ice caps—can subtly shift water levels. Written for readers with an interest in geology and geodesy, it provides the mathematical framework and applications that have informed modern understanding of sea-level variation.
Clear, step-by-step development shows how disturbances in mass and gravity affect the sea surface, and how these effects are modeled for real-world problems. The work also traces the historical context and the methods used to estimate these changes, offering insight into both theory and measurement.
- Foundational concepts linking sea level, geoid, and planetary shape
- Derivations of how surface masses influence elevation and slope
- Extensions to variable-thickness masses and related practical approximations
- Historical notes on how researchers estimated glacial and continental effects
Ideal for readers of scientific history, geology, and geodesy who want a grounded view of how sea level is shaped by mass distribution and Earth's form.