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KPBS Midday Edition

What Can Oceanography Teach Us About Climate Change?

A winter storm gathers off the coast of Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, Jan. 25, 2021.
KPBS Staff
A winter storm gathers off the coast of Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, Jan. 25, 2021.
Author and oceanographer Kim McCoy combines science and adventure in his new book, "Waves and Beaches: The Powerful Dynamics of Sea and Coast."

How can our relationship with shores and coastlines help bolster our understanding of climate change?

Author and oceanographer Kim McCoy sets out to answer that question in an update of a classic text in the marine science genre. The book, titled "Waves and Beaches: The Powerful Dynamic of Sea and Coast," expands on the original publication which was written by scientist Willard Bascom in 1964.

McCoy said the original text was invaluable to him as a graduate student, and inspired his work in the field.

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"This edition really focuses on how humans interact with the coastal zone," he said. "It gives a fundamental understanding of how waves are created, how they are propagated and how they interact with the coastline. Of course, humans are on the coastline, and we want to know what's going to happen to the coastline in this period of climate change."

He joined Midday Edition on Tuesday to discuss what lessons we can learn from the ocean as climate change continues to affect communities across the globe.

On Tuesday March 16 at 4 p.m., Kim McCoy will take part in a live virtual book event with Warwick’s. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook.