Professor of Oceanography writes state-of-the-art textbook

A Texas A&M University College of Geosciences professor has researched and composed a textbook that is without precedent in the field of oceanography, and will be published by Oxford University Press this fall.

Dr. Tom Bianchi’s work, Biogeochemistry of Estuaries, is the first text in its field to offer a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the process of biogeochemical cycling in estuaries.

The text, which Dr. Bianchi designed for intermediate to advanced students, utilizes numerous illustrations and an extensive literature to illustrate current state-of-the-art knowledge in this field.

In addition to its innovative research, this book differs from the norm in that it provides a unique foundation in the areas of geomorphology, geochemistry, biochemistry, aqueous chemistry, and ecology, while making strong linkages to ecosystem-based processes in estuarine sciences. Most current books in estuarine science are comprised of edited volumes that are highly specialized.

“I have been working in estuaries for many years, since my B.S. and M.S. degrees, and have been most interested in the holistic approach of biogeochemistry - a field that has really grown over the past two decades,” said Dr. Bianchi.

This is Dr. Bianchi’s second book; his first, titled Biogeochemistry of Gulf of Mexico Estuaries, was published in 1999.

“This current book is much more comprehensive - to be used by researchers around the world, as opposed to the previous one which had a more regional focus,” Dr. Bianchi said of the differences between his two works.

When he set out to create this text, Dr. Bianchi knew from the onset that his end product was going to be unique.

“I have been teaching a course in Estuarine Biogeochemistry for a number of years and knew, along with others around the country that teach this, such a book was sorely needed,” he said.

While he did not find the overall research process to be taxing, Dr. Bianchi did say that some of the composition/research aspects of this book were challenging.

“Obviously, I found writing on subjects not in my expertise, such as the physical dynamics of estuaries, to be most difficult, but very rewarding as a whole,” he said.

Dr. Bianchi plans on using this textbook while teaching "Biogeochemistry of Estuaries" next spring.

For more information on Dr. Bianchi, visit http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/.