Synopsis:

A scientist’s exploration of the “ocean engine”―the physics behind the ocean’s systems―and why it matters. All of Earth’s oceans, from the equator to the poles, are a single engine powered by sunlight, driving huge flows of energy, water, life, and raw materials. In The Blue Machine , physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski illustrates the mechanisms behind this defining feature of our planet, voyaging from the depths of the ocean floor to tropical coral reefs, estuaries that feed into shallow coastal seas, and Arctic ice floes.

Through stories of history, culture, and animals, she explains how water temperature, salinity, gravity, and the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates all interact in a complex dance, supporting life at the smallest scale―plankton―and the largest―giant sea turtles, whales, humankind. From the ancient Polynesians who navigated the Pacific by reading the waves, to permanent residents of the deep such as the Greenland shark that can live for hundreds of years, she introduces the messengers, passengers, and voyagers that rely on interlinked systems of vast currents, invisible ocean walls, and underwater waterfalls.

Most important, however, Czerski reveals that while the ocean engine has sustained us for thousands of years, today it is faced with urgent threats. By understanding how the ocean works, and its essential role in our global system, we can learn how to protect our blue machine. Timely, elegant, and passionately argued, The Blue Machine presents a fresh perspective on what it means to be a citizen of an ocean planet.

Review:

Despite being an environmentalist, I have shamefully neglected the oceans in my reading choices. A huge oversight on my part – for our world is mostly water. And while I am well-aware of how important the ocean is, I never thought about it like I do our terrestrial habitats. And then I read this line:

“When you splash through the waves at the beach, you’re connected via seawater to every drop of water in the global ocean.”

I paused, really thought about that, and then it sunk in how amazing the sea is. My local sea, the one I put my feet in, is usually dark, choppy and uninviting. But really, I have stood in all the seas. I have stood in the same water that exotic fish, sharks and turtles swim in. From that line onwards, I devoured this amazing book with gusto.

Helen Czerski is a scientist, but this book is written in such an accessible way without diluting the information. You can feel the authors deep respect for the ocean in her words, and her need for you to understand just how important and fascinating these watery depths are.

The ocean has shaped the entirety of humanity. Our cultures, lifestyles and habits are all impacted by this expanse of blue.
“The patterns that influence civilizations–weather, resources, culture–are often a consequence of the patterns that the ocean engine generates.”
I was just as fascinated to learn about this aspect as I was about the geography and biology of the sea, and Czerski writes it all in such a wonderful way, blending her own experiences with data and facts.

This book was a well-deserved winner of the @wainwrightprize for Conservation Writing, and I encourage anyone with an interest in our world to pick it up. Thank you so much to Wainwright for sending me a copy!