Join us virtually as we dive into the fascinating science of sand, surf, and waves for Kim McCoy's book launch of Waves and Beaches: The Powerful Dynamic of Sea and Coast, a fresh and updated look at Willard Bascom's account from 1964. McCoy will be joined by James Nestor, author of Deep and Breath. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn more about these authors.Â
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This is an event for anyone who appreciates the sea and wants to learn more about the unavoidable affects climate change has to our coastal dynamics.
This event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live. You can view this event on a computer or mobile device. If joining via mobile, we recommend downloading the Microsoft Teams app ahead of time.
Click HERE to open the event link.Â
First published in 1964 and updated in 1979, this classic was an essential handbook for anyone who studies, surfs, protects, or is fascinated by the ocean, a delightful combination of science and adventure. The original author, Willard Bascom, was a master of the subject and included a wealth of information, based on theory and statistics, but also anecdotal observation and personal experience. It brought to the general public understanding of the awesome and complex power of the waves. Fresh with new insights, this update from Kim McCoy adds recent facts and anecdotes to update the book’s relevance in the time of climate change. It spotlights the ongoing transformations to our coastal cities, sea-going vessels, energy supplies and global commerce. The dynamics of our waves and beaches are more relevant today as populations adapt to changing climates. One of the most significant effects of global warming will be sea-level rise. What will this mean to waves and beaches, and what effects are we already seeing? New text and photos cover events such as the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, Hurricane Katrina flooding of 2005, and the 2011 earthquake and resulting devastation in Fukishima. As well as students, surfers, and the general public, this updated edition of a beloved classic is an essential handbook for ocean activists, providing clear explanations and detailed resources for the constant battle to preserve the shore.
Kim McCoy's ocean research began where the land and sea merge - with surf zone wave dynamics and continues today with the coastal effects of climate change. Expeditions from the tropics to polar oceans with multinational academic, commercial and governmental institutions helped Kim pioneer advances in instrumentation, underwater communications, autonomous underwater vehicles and free-diving.
James Nestor is an author and journalist who has written for Scientific American, Outside, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more. His latest book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, was released May 26, 2020 by Riverhead/Penguin Random House. Breath was an instant New York Times and London Sunday Times bestseller and will be translated into more than 30 languages in 2021. Nestor’s first book, Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves, was published in 2014 and was a finalist for the 2014 PEN/ESPN Award For Literary Sports Writing, an Amazon Best Science Book of 2014, and more. Nestor has presented his work at Stanford Medical School, Harvard Medical School, the United Nations, Global Classroom (World Health Organization+UNICEF), as well as more than 60 radio and television shows, including Fresh Air with Terry Gross, the Joe Rogan Show, ABC’s Nightline, CBS Morning News, and dozens of NPR programs. He lives and breathes in San Francisco. More at mrjamesnestor.com.