Introductory Dynamical Oceanography

Pickard & Pond (1983) is a textbook suitable for use in college courses for upper division undergraduate and beginning graduate students. It serves well as the second textbook on dynamics in a two-course sequence with description first, then dynamics. It also is suitable as a stand-alone textbook for a first introduction to dynamic physical oceanography. Its existence in print for 26 years is a measure of how well its authors have worked out explanations and weeded out errors. Single-course introductions to physical oceanography need textbooks like Knauss (2005) with a mix of descriptive and dynamic approaches. Because it avoids descriptive approaches, Pickard & Pond (1983) does not compete with Knauss (2005). Pickard & Pond (1983) based on dynamics also does not compete with Pickard and Emery (1990) based on description. Some users might believe that Pickard & Pond (1983) competes directly with Mellor (2008). Others might believe that Mellor (2008) has some material on the level of Pickard & Pond (1983) and some on the next level upward. To compare Pickard & Pond (1983) with other physical oceanography textbooks, see my reviews of Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Knauss (2005), Introduction to Physical Oceanography by Mellor (2008) and Descriptive Physical Oceanography by Pickard and Emery (1990).