Synopses & Reviews
Volcanoes are essential elements in the delicate global balance of elemental forces that govern both the dynamic evolution of the Earth and the nature of Life itself. Without volcanic activity, life as we know it would not exist on our planet. Although beautiful to behold, volcanoes are also potentially destructive, and understanding their nature is critical to prevent major loss of life in the future.
Richly illustrated with over 300 original color photographs and diagrams the book is written in an informal manner, with minimum use of jargon, and relies heavily on first-person, eye-witness accounts of eruptive activity at both "red" (effusive) and "grey" (explosive) volcanoes to illustrate the full spectrum of volcanic processes and their products. Decades of teaching in university classrooms and fieldwork on active volcanoes throughout the world have provided the authors with unique experiences that they have distilled into a highly readable textbook of lasting value. Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion, Suggestions for Further Reading, and a comprehensive list of source references make this work a major resource for further study of volcanology.
Volcanoes maintains three core foci:
- Global perspectives explain volcanoes in terms of their tectonic positions on Earth and their roles in earth history
- Environmental perspectives describe the essential role of volcanism in the moderation of terrestrial climate and atmosphere
- Humanitarian perspectives discuss the major influences of volcanoes on human societies. This latter is especially important as resource scarcities and environmental issues loom over our world, and as increasing numbers of people are threatened by volcanic hazards
Readership
Volcanologists, advanced undergraduate, and graduate students in earth science and related degree courses, and volcano enthusiasts worldwide.
Review
"Volcanoes will satisfy everybody interested in this fascinating topic, but most of all this textbook is
written for volcanologists, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students in Earth sciences." (Pure and Applied Geophysics, 2011)
"Overall I would highly recommend this work to anyone who wishes to understand volcanoes from a global perspective." (Bull Volcanol, 2011)
"Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals; general readers". (Choice, 1 November 2010)
Review
“Overall I would highly recommend this work to anyone who wishes to understand volcanoes from a global perspective.” (
Bull Volcanol, 2011)"Volcanoes will satisfy everybody interested in this fascinating topic, but most of all this textbook is written for volcanologists, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students in Earth sciences." (Pure and Applied Geophysics, 2011)
"This is an impressive new textbook on volcanoes written by two US volcanologists with considerable expertise. The text is informative, readable, well referenced and beautifully illustrated throughout with many helpful colour diagrams and photos . . . I expect many will purchase it and I strongly recommend it for all college libraries." (The Geographical Journal, 2011)
"But these caveats notwithstanding, Featherstone has written an excellent and often passionate account of the relational geographies of counter-global resistance that makes important contributions to debates on social movements, resistance, and space; it will become a landmark text in the political geographies of resistance." (Area, 2011)
"Overall I would highly recommend this work to anyone who wishes to understand volcanoes from a global perspective." (Bull Volcanol, 2011)
"Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals; general readers". (Choice, 1 November 2010)
Included on the Outstanding Academic Title 2010 list by Choice Magazine (1 January 2011)
Synopsis
Volcanoes are a vital presence in our world, and play a key role in maintaining the human eco-environment through soil enrichment and atmospheric inputs. They are also hazardous features, whose eruptions have not only killed many hundreds of thousands of people in recorded history, but have also greatly influenced both the development of human culture and the evolution of human species. Volcanoes commonly form beautiful landscapes, and form the principal features of national parks all over the world, serving as magnets that attract millions of visitors each year. Hundreds of millions of other people live on or in the shadows of active volcanoes. Most of these people have only a shallow, passing interest in the volcanoes they see, but there is a certain large, enthusiastic cohort of these people whose fascination with volcanoes leads them to travel to see volcanoes close-up, and to seek authoritative volcanological information. The study of volcanoes and volcanic activity is an essential component of all introductory geology courses. Although the typical exposure to volcanology is superficial in most introductory courses, advanced undergraduate courses and specialized graduate courses require authoritative textbooks on volcanology - either for reference, or as the backbone of focused courses and seminars. We believe our book would best serve college-level students poised to enter the earth sciences professionally, and will also serve as an important reference for interested lay readers and earth scientists in general. Four color throughout with many superb color photographs Suitable for students with no mathematical background End-chapter study questions for students
About the Author
Jack Lockwood worked for the US Geological Survey for over 30 years, including 20 years in Hawaii, based at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. He now runs a consulting business, Geohazards Consultants International.
Richard (Rick) Hazlett is Coordinator of the Environmental Analysis Program and a member of the Geology Department at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he teaches an upper-level course in physical volcanology.
Table of Contents
PREFACE.
PART I – INTRODUCTION.
1. Eruptions, Jargon, and History.
A "Grey Volcano" in Eruption – Galunggung – 1982.
A "Red Volcano" in Eruption – Kilauea – 1974.
Some Basic Terminology.
History of Volcanology.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
PART II – THE BIG PICTURE.
2. Global Perspectives – Plate Tectonics and Volcanism.
Birth of a Theory.
Volcanoes along Divergent Plate Boundaries.
Volcanoes along Convergent Plate Boundaries.
Intraplate Volcanoes.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
3. The Nature of Magma – Where Volcanoes Come From.
Origins of Magma.
The Physics and Chemistry of Melting.
Classification of Magma and Igneous Rocks.
Principal Magma Types.
Magmatic and Volcanic Gases.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
4. The Physical Properties of Magma and Why it Erupts.
Magma Temperatures.
Magma Rheology.
Magma Ascent and Emplacement.
"Frozen Magma" – Subvolcanic Intrusives.
Triggers for Volcanic Eruptions – Why Volcanoes Erupt.
Repose Intervals.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
PART III – VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND THEIR PRODUCTS.
5. Classifying Volcanic Eruptions.
Lacroix Classification System.
Rittman Diagrams.
Geze Classification Diagram.
Walker Classification System.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
6. Effusive Volcanic Eruptions and Their Products.
Mafic and Intermediate Effusive Eruptions.
Pahoehoe and A0a.
Pyroducts.
Pahoehoe Surface Structures.
Lava Flow Internal Structures.
A0a Surface Structures.
Block Lavas.
Radiocarbon Dating of Prehistoric Lava Flows.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
7. An Overview of Explosive Eruptions and Their Products.
Ejecta Classification.
Explosive Eruption Styles and Their Products.
Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs).
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
8. A Closer Look at Large-scale Explosive Eruptions.
Measuring the Sizes of Plinian Eruptions.
Plinian Eruption Dynamics.
Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs).
Directed Blasts.
"Super-Eruptions".
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
PART IV – VOLCANIC LANDFORMS AND SETTINGS.
9. Constructional ("Positive") Volcanic Landforms.
Large Igneous Provinces.
Shield Volcanoes.
Composite Volcanoes.
Minor Volcanic Landforms.
Volcano Old Age and Extinction.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
10. "Negative" Volcanic Landforms – Craters and Calderas.
Small Craters.
Calderas.
Post-caldera Resurgence.
Caldera Formation Mechanisms.
Caldera Roots – Relationships to Plutonic Rocks.
Volcano-tectonic Depressions.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
11. Mass-wasting Processes and Products.
Landslides, Avalanches, and Sector Collapses.
Lahars.
Causes of Lahars.
Lahar Dynamics.
Lahar Destructiveness.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
12. Volcanoes Unseen and Far Away.
Submarine and Subglacial Volcanoes – The Meeting of Fire, Water, and Ice.
Extraterrestrial Volcanoes.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
PART V – HUMANISTIC VOLCANOLOGY.
13. Volcanoes: Life, Climate, and Human History.
Volcanoes and the Origin of Life.
Volcanoes, Atmosphere, and Climate.
Volcanic Influence on Soil Fertility and Agriculture.
Volcanoes and Human History.
Social Impact of Volcanic Eruptions.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
14. Volcanic Hazards and Risk – Monitoring and Mitigation.
Hazards and Risk.
Active, Dormant, and Extinct Volcanoes.
Volcanic Hazards.
Volcanic Risk.
Volcano Monitoring.
Volcanic Crisis Management.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
15. Economic Volcanology.
Earth Energy Relationships.
Volcano Energy.
Stored Energy: Geothermal Power.
Volcanoes and Ore Deposits.
Other Useful Volcanic Materials.
Further Reading.
Questions for Thought, Study, and Discussion.
Epilogue: The Future of Volcanology.
References.
Index.
Appendix: List of Prominent World Volcanoes.
Map: Prominent World Volcanoes.