Much of that recent SE QLD tropical cyclone turbulence resulted in storm surge, disastrous beach erosion and record-breaking massive wave heights (12.3 metres off the Gold Coast).
You don’t have to be an ex-sailor, like me, or even a storm chaser to appreciate the wonders of weather however; the pulse and rhythm of waves has a hypnotic pull that most of us find difficult to resist.
Which is why, Thames &
Hudson’s latest atlas-styled publication about the phenomena of waves rates
high on my barometer of brilliant reads.
Following
a similar format to Cloud
Atlas, Wave Atlas: Everything You Need To Know About Waves, takes young
readers (and old sea dogs like myself) through a fascinating journey around our
water dominated planet. We explore the hows and whys of our oceans’ existence
and the global currents, tidal pulls and meteorological conditions that induce
those great oceans to move.
The formation and components of waves are explained in detail, with enough visual exposition to reinforce the informative prose. Correct nomenclature is used throughout however never feels to ‘sciencey’ and therefore potentially overwhelming. In fact, each wave description, measuring sea scale and so on are confined to just one double spread (two adjoining pages) meaning, Waves is as easy to dip in and out of as dipping your toes in onshore beach wavelet.
Of course,
not all of the oceans’ movements results in waves. Swells, essentially wave
motions triggered by faraway gales, are just as varied and important to identify
and understand, especially if you happen to be a mariner, or surfer or casual coastal
onlooker in the face of an oncoming cyclonic event.
The
breakdowns of wave anatomy and behaviour are further enhanced with explanations
about wave motions and how their final moments before breaking ashore are
influenced by those shores and the seabeds over which they travel. It’s mind-bending
stuff when you stop to consider the wheres and whys of that waist high bit of
surf that just balled you over unceremoniously.
As with
Cloud Atlas, the same creative duo behind Wave Atlas somehow
manages to bring the concept of waves alive. Enticing snippets of historical
information weave throughout the text while real images and artwork distil
together leaving no doubt as to the many moods and forces the ocean is capable
of assuming.
As a
nation ‘girt by sea’, it seems prudent to include Wave Atlas on every
youngster’s book shelf, if for no other reason (and there are many), to expose
them to the quantifiable beauty and majesty of our mighty oceans.
Title: Wave Atlas: Everything
You Need To Know About Waves
Author: Sarah Zambello
Illustrator: Susy Zanella
Publisher: Thames & Hudson, $34.99
Publication Date: 4 February 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760764524
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Non-fiction
