Encyclopedia of Volcanoes
Encyclopedia of Volcanoes
Haraldur Sigurdsson, Editor in Chief
Published by Academic Press, 2000
This is an 8.5" by 11" hardcover book running to 1417 pages including the index and appendices, plus a preferatory section. It's printed on high-quality paper and is very heavy.
Her preface describes the book as follows:
The volume addresses all aspects of volcanism, ranging from the generation of magma, its transport and migration, eruption, and formation of volcanic deposits. It also addresses volcanic hazards, their mitigation, the monitoring of volcanic activity, and economic aspects and, for the first time, analyzes several specific cultural aspects of volcanic activity, including the impact of volcanic activity on archaeology, literature, art, and film. To compose a single volume that is a complete reference for such a far-ranging phenomenon is indeed a daunting task.
The entries are arranged thematically rather than alphabetically, though there is an alphabetical listing of the articles with their page numbers. The articles are in nine parts, with sample article titles for each:
Opening the book at random, I'm looking at the middle of the article on "Plinian and Subplinian Eruptions," which is eighteen pages long. Plinian eruptions are named after the Roman author Pliny the Elder, who died in the eruption of mount Vesuvius, and his son, Pliny the Younger, who narrated the eruption in letters to Tacitus. This article is divided into four main sections: "Characteristics," "Direct Observations of Plinian Eruptions," "The Inverse Problem: From Deposits to the Eruption," "Discussion of Eruption Dynamics." Each of these parts has sub-parts. The prose is on the technical side, and assumes some knowldge of earth science and its quantitative methods. It is loaded with illustrations.
This is a very solid reference work on volcanoes that should satisfy serious users.
Haraldur Sigurdsson, Editor in Chief
Published by Academic Press, 2000
This is an 8.5" by 11" hardcover book running to 1417 pages including the index and appendices, plus a preferatory section. It's printed on high-quality paper and is very heavy.
Her preface describes the book as follows:
The volume addresses all aspects of volcanism, ranging from the generation of magma, its transport and migration, eruption, and formation of volcanic deposits. It also addresses volcanic hazards, their mitigation, the monitoring of volcanic activity, and economic aspects and, for the first time, analyzes several specific cultural aspects of volcanic activity, including the impact of volcanic activity on archaeology, literature, art, and film. To compose a single volume that is a complete reference for such a far-ranging phenomenon is indeed a daunting task.
The entries are arranged thematically rather than alphabetically, though there is an alphabetical listing of the articles with their page numbers. The articles are in nine parts, with sample article titles for each:
- Origin and Transport of Magma ("Migration of Melt," "Physical Properties of Magmas," "Plumbing Systems")
- Eruption ("Earth's Volcanoes and Eruptions, an Overview," "Sizes of Volcanic Eruptions")
- Effusive Volcanism ("Lava Flows and Flow Fields," "Lava Domes and Coulees," "Seamounts and Island Building")
- Explosive Volcanism ("Hawaiian and Strombolian Eruptions," "Pyroclast Transport and Deposition," "Lahars")
- Extraterrestrial Volcanism ("Volcanism on the Moon," "Volcanism on Venus," "Cryovolcanism in the Outer Solar System")
- Volcanic Interactions ("Geothermal Systems," "Deep Ocean Hydrothermal Vents," "Volcanic Lakes")
- Volcanic Hazards ("Lava Flow Hazards," "Volcanic Tsunamis," "Volcanism and Biotic Extinctions")
- Eruption Response and Mitigation ("Seismic Monitoring," "Ground Deformation, Gravity, and Magnetics," "Volcanic Crisis Management")
- Economic Benefits and Cultural Aspects of Volcanism ("Volcanoes and Tourism," "Archaeology of Volcanism," "Volcanic Soils")
Opening the book at random, I'm looking at the middle of the article on "Plinian and Subplinian Eruptions," which is eighteen pages long. Plinian eruptions are named after the Roman author Pliny the Elder, who died in the eruption of mount Vesuvius, and his son, Pliny the Younger, who narrated the eruption in letters to Tacitus. This article is divided into four main sections: "Characteristics," "Direct Observations of Plinian Eruptions," "The Inverse Problem: From Deposits to the Eruption," "Discussion of Eruption Dynamics." Each of these parts has sub-parts. The prose is on the technical side, and assumes some knowldge of earth science and its quantitative methods. It is loaded with illustrations.
This is a very solid reference work on volcanoes that should satisfy serious users.