Summary

Volcanic eruptions are some of the most spectacular of all natural phenomena, yet they are also among the most dangerous geological hazards. Eruptions may send blocks of rock, ash, and gas tens of thousands of feet into the atmosphere, and individual eruptions have been responsible for killing tens of thousands of people. The hazards associated with volcanic eruptions are not limited to the immediate threat from flowing lava and ash; they may also include long-term atmospheric and climate effects, changes to land use patterns, and the livelihood of human populations.

Volcanoes examines the different types of volcanic eruptions—starting with an introduction to volcanoes, volcanic landforms, and plate tectonics, followed by a detailed description of the various characteristics of magma that lead to differences in eruption style. The classification of igneous rocks, the extreme hazards associated with volcanism, and the prediction of eruptions are some of the many important topics examined in this reference. Black-and-white photographs and line illustrations enhance the text, and an index, glossary, sidebars, and further resources will aid middle and high school students in their study.

Chapters include:

• Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, and Igneous Rocks
• Volcanic Hazards
• Reducing the Threat from Volcanic Hazards
• Examples of Historical Volcanic Disasters
• Examples of Volcanic Disasters of the 20th and 21st Centuries
• Massive Global Volcanism, Volcanic Winters, and Kimberlite Eruptions
• Mass Extinctions and Catastrophes.

Specifications

Black-and-white photographs and line illustrations. Index. Glossary. Further reading. Web sites. Sidebars. Tables.

About the Author(s)

Timothy Kusky holds a Ph.D. degree in Earth and planetary sciences from Johns Hopkins University, and is the Paul C. Reinert Professor of Natural Sciences at Saint Louis University in Missouri and the director of the Center for Environmental Sciences in St. Louis. He has published more than 600 research papers and articles in journals such as Science, Journal of Geophysical Research, and Tectonics, and more than 20 books including Geological Hazards. Kusky is also the author of Facts On File's acclaimed Encyclopedia of Earth Science.