Volcanoes (ePub)

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.

A companion website is also available for this title at href="http://www.wiley.com/go/lockwood/volcanoes">www.wiley.com/go/lockwood/volcanoes