This book presents a broad overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the Red Sea, from its geological formation and oceanographic development to the environmental influences on its ecology and the changes it is experiencing due to the rapid development of its coastlines and role as one of the world's major transport routes. The book gathers invited contributions from researchers with an interest in the geology, geophysics, oceanography and environment of the Red Sea, while also providing comprehensive new data and a complete review of the literature. It will be of interest not only to researchers actively studying the sea and its surroundings, but will also appeal to all those involved in planning and managing the Red Sea, its environment, its resources and the countries which rely on its existence.

Introduction to the Red Sea: Its origin, structure and environment

The Red Sea: Birth of an ocean
Geological evolution of the Red Sea: Historical background, review and synthesis
Seafloor spreading initiation: geophysical and geochemical constraints from the Thetis and Nereus Deeps, central Red Sea
The Northern Red Sea in transition from rifting to drifting - lessons learned from ocean deeps
Lineaments in gravity data of the Red Sea
Geodetic constraints on the geodynamic evolution of the Red Sea
Seismicity and seismotectonic setting of the Red Sea and adjacent areas
Seismicity of the western side of the southern Red Sea
Volcanic eruptions in the southern Red Sea during 2007-2013
Red Sea salt formations - a result of hydrothermal processes
Salt flows in the central Red Sea
Geochemical classification of brine-filled Red Sea deeps
Hydrothermal activity and paleoenvironments of the Atlantis II Deep
Environmental risks of mining metalliferous muds in the Atlantis II Deep, Red Sea
Calcite and aragonite saturation states of the Red Sea and biogeochemical impacts of excess carbon dioxide
Lagoon sediments of the eastern Red Sea: Distribution processes, pathways and patterns Sea level changes
Air-Sea interaction and horizontal circulation in the Red Sea
Water-mass formation, overturning circulation and the exchange of the Red Sea with the adjacent basins
Heat balance of the Red Sea
Impacts of climate change on the Red Sea region and its watersheds, Saudi Arabia
Raised coral reefs and sediments in the coastal area of the Red Sea
Geomorphology of shallow water coral reef environments in the Red Sea
Coral reefs and communities of the central and southern Red Sea (Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Yemen)
Coral reefs of the Red Sea with special reference to the Sudanese coastal area
The status, threats and resilience of reef building corals of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea
Biology of Red Sea corals: Metabolism, reproduction,acclimatization, and adaptation
Taxonomic, ecological and historical considerations on the deep-water benthic mollusc fauna of the Red Sea
Sea Slugs: unexpected biodiversity and distribution
Marine turtles of the Red Sea
Phytoplankton of the Red Sea
Mangroves of the Red Sea
The evolution of the Red Sea as a human habitat during the Quaternary Period.