This book presents a broad overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the Red Sea, from its geological formation and oceanographic development to the environmental influences on its ecology and the changes it is experiencing due to the rapid development of its coastlines and role as one of the world’s major transport routes. The book gathers invited contributions from researchers with an interest in the geology, geophysics, oceanography and environment of the Red Sea, while also providing comprehensive new data and a complete review of the literature. It will be of interest not only to researchers actively studying the sea and its surroundings, but will also appeal to all those involved in planning and managing the Red Sea, its environment, its resources and the countries which rely on its existence.
Author(s): Najeeb M.A. Rasul, Ian C.F. Stewart (eds.)
Series: Springer Earth System Sciences
Edition: 1
Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Year: 2015
Language: English
Pages: 638
Tags: Geology; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Physical Geography
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Introduction to the Red Sea: Its Origin, Structure, and Environment....Pages 1-28
The Red Sea: Birth of an Ocean....Pages 29-44
Geological Evolution of the Red Sea: Historical Background, Review, and Synthesis....Pages 45-78
Seafloor Spreading Initiation: Geophysical and Geochemical Constraints from the Thetis and Nereus Deeps, Central Red Sea....Pages 79-98
The Northern Red Sea in Transition from Rifting to Drifting-Lessons Learned from Ocean Deeps....Pages 99-121
Lineaments in Gravity Data of the Red Sea....Pages 123-133
Geodetic Constraints on the Geodynamic Evolution of the Red Sea....Pages 135-149
Seismicity and Seismotectonic Setting of the Red Sea and Adjacent Areas....Pages 151-159
Seismicity of the Western Side of the Southern Red Sea....Pages 161-173
Volcanic Eruptions in the Southern Red Sea During 2007–2013....Pages 175-186
Red Sea Salt Formations—A Result of Hydrothermal Processes....Pages 187-203
Salt Flows in the Central Red Sea....Pages 205-218
Geochemical Classification of Brine-Filled Red Sea Deeps....Pages 219-233
Hydrothermal Activity and Paleoenvironments of the Atlantis II Deep....Pages 235-249
Environmental Risks of Mining Metalliferous Muds in the Atlantis II Deep, Red Sea....Pages 251-266
Calcite and Aragonite Saturation States of the Red Sea and Biogeochemical Impacts of Excess Carbon Dioxide....Pages 267-279
Lagoon Sediments of the Eastern Red Sea: Distribution Processes, Pathways and Patterns....Pages 281-316
Sea-Level Changes....Pages 317-328
Air–Sea Interaction and Horizontal Circulation in the Red Sea....Pages 329-342
Water Mass Formation, Overturning Circulation, and the Exchange of the Red Sea with the Adjacent Basins....Pages 343-353
Heat Balance of the Red Sea....Pages 355-361
Impacts of Climate Change on the Red Sea Region and its Watersheds, Saudi Arabia....Pages 363-377
Raised Coral Reefs and Sediments in the Coastal Area of the Red Sea....Pages 379-393
Geomorphology of Shallow Water Coral Reef Environments in the Red Sea....Pages 395-408
Coral Reefs and Communities of the Central and Southern Red Sea (Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Yemen)....Pages 409-451
Coral Reefs of the Red Sea with Special Reference to the Sudanese Coastal Area....Pages 453-469
The Status, Threats, and Resilience of Reef-Building Corals of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea....Pages 471-486
Biology of Red Sea Corals: Metabolism, Reproduction, Acclimatization, and Adaptation....Pages 487-509
Taxonomic, Ecological and Historical Considerations on the Deep-Water Benthic Mollusc Fauna of the Red Sea....Pages 511-529
Sea Slugs: Unexpected Biodiversity and Distribution....Pages 531-550
Marine Turtles of the Red Sea....Pages 551-565
Phytoplankton of the Red Sea....Pages 567-583
Mangroves of the Red Sea....Pages 585-597
The Evolution of the Red Sea as a Human Habitat During the Quaternary Period....Pages 599-614
Back Matter....Pages 615-638
