Book Review: The Gulf Stream: Tiny Plankton, Giant Bluefin, and the Amazing Story of the Powerful River in the Atlantic

Abstract

"A Caravan book"--Title page verso. Coursing through the Atlantic Ocean is a powerful current with a force 300 times that of the mighty Amazon. Ulanski explores the fascinating science and history of this sea highway known as the Gulf Stream, a watery wilderness that stretches from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic. Spanning both distance and time, Ulanski's investigation reveals how the Gulf Stream affects and is affected by every living thing that encounters it--from tiny planktonic organisms to giant bluefin tuna, from ancient mariners to big-game anglers. He examines the scientific discovery of ocean circulation, the role of ocean currents in the settlement of the New World, and the biological life teeming in the stream. Coming full circle : flow in the Atlantic. Swirls and conveyors ; Anatomy of the Gulf Stream ; Flowing down the hill: the history of ocean circulation -- Life in the Gulf Stream. Floaters and drifters ; Bluefin tuna: the great migration ; Fishing the blue waters -- Sailing the Atlantic. Exploration and discovery ; Colonization of America.