Product Description

Volcanoes are unquestionably one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring features of the physical world. Our paradoxical fascination with them stems from their majestic beauty and powerful, if sometimes deadly, destructiveness.
Notwithstanding the tremendous advances in volcanology since ancient times, some of the mystery surrounding volcanic eruptions remains today. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes summarizes our present knowledge of volcanoes. Through its thematic organization around the melting of the earth, it provides a comprehensive source of information on the multidisciplinary influences of volcanic eruptions--both the destructive as well as the beneficial aspects.
The majority of the chapters focus on the geoscience-related aspects of volcanism (radioactive heat source, melting rock, ascent of magma, surface phenomena associated with exiting magma, extraterrestrial volcanism, etc.). In addition, complementary chapters discuss the multidisciplinary aspects of volcanism; these include the history of volcanology, geothermal energy resources, interaction with the oceans and atmosphere, health aspects of volcanism, mitigation of volcanic disasters, post-eruption ecology, and the impact of eruptions on organismal biodiversity.

In addition to its appeal to educators, students, and professional and amateur scientists, the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes functions as an important information resource for administrators and officials responsible for developing and implementing volcanic hazard mitigation around the world.

* The first and only reference work to cover all aspects of volcanology
* More than 80 separate peer-reviewed articles--all original contributions by leading authors from major institutions of science around the world, commissioned for this work
* An integrated transition from the volcanic process through hazards, risk, and societal impacts, with an emphasis on how volcanoes have influenced and shaped society
* Convenient single-volume format with topics arranged thematically--articles provide coverage of nine different aspects of volcanology
* Each entry in the Encyclopedia begins with an outline of the article content and a concise definition of the subject of the article
* 3,000 Glossary entries explain key terms
* Further Reading lists appear at the end of each entry
* Extensive cross-referencing system links related articles
* Sixteen pages of color will convey the science and excitement of this often violent phenomena
* Large 8 1/2" x 11" page size, easy-to-read double-column format

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #383967 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 1456 pages

Review
"Everything you ever wanted to know about volcanism is contained in this text [...] the authoritative reference on volcanology for years to come." --CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY, May/June 2000 "This monumental volume, authored by more than 100 leading specialists, dwarfs all previous works ... the publisher has done a remarkable job." --CHOICE, June 2000 "This volume is the first sophisticated attempt at a comprehensive reference work about volcanoes and volcanic processes...The articles can be quite technical but not any more than they need to be in giving serios academic treatment to the topic. Readers who are less familiar with this area of geology will find the glossary in each article to be very useful...This volume is indispensable for anyone who is serious about understanding volcanoes on a sophisticated level. From the highly useful overview of specific topics and processes to the definitions of particular terms, there is no better or more comprehensive work available--nor is there likely to be...this valuable resource is highly recommended for larger public and academic libraries." --BOOKLIST/April 1, 2000 "This impressive work covers all aspects of volcanism...Geared for college students and researchers, the well-written articles include a glossary that defines terms within the context of the article, which is very helpful to readers unfamiliar with the terminology...Works such as The Encyclopedia of Earthquakes & Volcanoes are nowhere near as comprehensive as this volume...An excellent source for those who want more than general information on any aspect of volcanology, this volume is highly recommended for academic libraries." --Teresa Berry, University of Tennessee Library, LIBRARY JOURNAL/April 1, 2000 "The comprehensive and up-to-date Encyclopedia of Volcanoes represents good, broad scientific writing. Important topics about volcanoes that are rarely addressed in stuff scientific journals, such as volcanoes in art, literature and film, are to be found here. The book's 83 chapters are written by volcanological scholars and reviewed by their peers. The authors did not 'dumb down' other work, or cut and paste from their scientific journal publications, but instead present difficult science clearly. The problem of jargon, a curse of scientific education, is addressed upfront by a glossary in each chapter. The science presented clearly reveals openings for new investigations. --William I. Rose, Michigan Technological University, NATURE, March 2000 "The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes is thorough, comprehensive and fully deserving of its title...The articles are scholarly and will be of most interest to the student and scientific researcher...each article has its own glossary that helps make the book more useful to the general reader as well as a list of further readings, some more extensive than others. There are also more than 800 graphs, charts, tables, and illustrations that complement the nearly 1400 pages of text...The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes is unique in its extensive coverage of this fascinating subject. There is a lot of useful scientific information here for the money. --AGAINST THE GRAIN, February 2000 " The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes covers just about everything one could wish to know about volcanoes and at 1,359 pages of text no other single book can hope to compete with the mass of volcanological information it contains (all 3.5 kg of it). Written by 112 expert authors, the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes will be the reference work for a long time... Undergraduate geology students, professional volcanologists, planetologists, and historians of science will find the Encyclopedia has something for them. With so much material on display, the encyclopedia is a browser's delight and members of sub-disciplines will find their interests being pulled towards new undreamt of areas of volcanology as they flick through the pages. It's difficult to stop reading it...All science libraries should have a copy." --Stephen Blake, Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, IAVCEI News

Review
"Everything you ever wanted to know about volcanism is contained in this text [...] the authoritative reference on volcanology for years to come."
--CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY, May/June 2000
"This monumental volume, authored by more than 100 leading specialists, dwarfs all previous works . . . the publisher has done a remarkable job."
--CHOICE, June 2000
"This volume is the first sophisticated attempt at a comprehensive reference work about volcanoes and volcanic processes...The articles can be quite technical but not any more than they need to be in giving serios academic treatment to the topic. Readers who are less familiar with this area of geology will find the glossary in each article to be very useful...This volume is indispensable for anyone who is serious about understanding volcanoes on a sophisticated level. From the highly useful overview of specific topics and processes to the definitions of particular terms, there is no better or more comprehensive work available--nor is there likely to be....this valuable resource is highly recommended for larger public and academic libraries."
--BOOKLIST/April 1, 2000
"This impressive work covers all aspects of volcanism....Geared for college students and researchers, the well-written articles include a glossary that defines terms within the context of the article, which is very helpful to readers unfamiliar with the terminology...Works such as The Encyclopedia of Earthquakes & Volcanoes are nowhere near as comprehensive as this volume...An excellent source for those who want more than general information on any aspect of volcanology, this volume is highly recommended for academic libraries."
--Teresa Berry, University of Tennessee Library, LIBRARY JOURNAL/April 1, 2000
"The comprehensive and up-to-date Encyclopedia of Volcanoes represents good, broad scientific writing. Important topics about volcanoes that are rarely addressed in stuff scientific journals, such as volcanoes in art, literature and film, are to be found here. The book's 83 chapters are written by volcanological scholars and reviewed by their peers. The authors did not 'dumb down' other work, or cut and paste from their scientific journal publications, but instead present difficult science clearly. The problem of jargon, a curse of scientific education, is addressed upfront by a glossary in each chapter. The science presented clearly reveals openings for new investigations.
--William I. Rose, Michigan Technological University, NATURE, March 2000
"The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes is thorough, comprehensive and fully deserving of its title....The articles are scholarly and will be of most interest to the student and scientific researcher...each article has its own glossary that helps make the book more useful to the general reader as well as a list of further readings, some more extensive than others. There are also more than 800 graphs, charts, tables, and illustrations that complement the nearly 1400 pages of text...The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes is unique in its extensive coverage of this fascinating subject. There is a lot of useful scientific information here for the money.
--AGAINST THE GRAIN, February 2000
" The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes covers just about everything one could wish to know about volcanoes and at 1,359 pages of text no other single book can hope to compete with the mass of volcanological information it contains (all 3.5 kg of it). Written by 112 expert authors, the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes will be the reference work for a long time....
Undergraduate geology students, professional volcanologists, planetologists, and historians of science will find the Encyclopedia has something for them. With so much material on display, the encyclopedia is a browser's delight and members of sub-disciplines will find their interests being pulled towards new undreamt of areas of volcanology as they flick through the pages. It's difficult to stop reading it...All science libraries should have a copy."
--Stephen Blake, Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, IAVCEI News

Synopsis
Volcanoes are unquestionably one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring features of the physical world. Our paradoxical fascination with them stems from their majestic beauty and powerful, if sometimes deadly, destructiveness. Notwithstanding the tremendous advances in volcanology since ancient times, some of the mystery surrounding volcanic eruptions remains today. "The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes" summarizes our present knowledge of volcanoes. Through its thematic organization around the melting of the earth, it provides a comprehensive source of information on the multidisciplinary influences of volcanic eruptions - both the destructive as well as the beneficial aspects. The majority of the chapters focus on the geoscience-related aspects of volcanism (radioactive heat source, melting rock, ascent of magma, surface phenomena associated with exiting magma, extraterrestrial volcanism, etc.).In addition, complementary chapters discuss the multidisciplinary aspects of volcanism; these include the history of volcanology, geothermal energy resources, interaction with the oceans and atmosphere, health aspects of volcanism, mitigation of volcanic disasters, post-eruption ecology, and the impact of eruptions on organismal biodiversity.

In addition to its appeal to educators, students, and professional and amateur scientists, the "Encyclopedia of Volcanoes" functions as an important information resource for administrators and officials responsible for developing and implementing volcanic hazard mitigation around the world. This is the first and only reference work to cover all aspects of volcanology. More than 80 separate peer-reviewed articles - all original contributions by leading authors from major institutions of science around the world have been commissioned for this work.It offers an integrated transition from the volcanic process through hazards, risk, and societal impacts, with an emphasis on how volcanoes have influenced and shaped society. It features a convenient single-volume format with topics arranged thematically - articles provide coverage of nine different aspects of volcanology. Each entry in the Encyclopedia begins with an outline of the article content and a concise definition of the subject of the article. 3,000 Glossary entries explain key terms. Further Reading lists appear at the end of each entry. Extensive cross-referencing system links related articles.

Sixteen pages of color will convey the science and excitement of this often violent phenomena. It features large 8 1/2" x 11" page size, and an easy-to-read double-column format.

Customer Reviews

Welcome to mother of volcanology textbooks!!!
There can't be any information about volcanology pre-2000 that is not included in this book - it really is an encyclopedia.

Every topic in physical volcanology, volcanic hazard, and all related subjects including volcanically formed ore deposits, volcanoes in books and films, ad infintum appears to be covered. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field which really adds to the quality, as well, as a result the book appears to include a section by every volcanologist in the world which again is very useful if you're involved in volcanological research.

The technical detail is excellent and where it stops there are a series of useful references (usually journal papers). Each chapter is about the right length to dip into when requiring some expert knowledge on a particular aspect of volcanology. The only slight downside is that because each chapter is written by a different author the style varies a lot, however all appear to be written to a high standard.

This book is a must for anyone seriously studying volcanology, for whom I'm sure it will be an indispensible reference guide. As I final recommendation I have seen it on the office bookshelf of more than a few volcanologists!

A final word of warning however this book is very expensive and I have heard some unsubstantiated rumours that a new edition is in production, the current edition is beginning to age, so it maybe worth holding on for the new edition, if indeed the rumours are true!

Volcanism made simple!
This is a perfect book for anyone interested in or studying volcanoes. It encompasses all elements concerned with volcanism on Earth and on other planets in our solar system. It includes information reaching degree level complexity which is explained in a simple way. This is a must for all those interested in volcanoes making it completely indispensible.

An excellent, up-to-date book on volcanoes
The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes is the best book I have read on Volcanology. It covers a fantastic range of relevant topics which will no doubt satisfy the curiosity and interest in any reader. The contributors have not skimped on detail, and although the language is technical, it is configured so as to make even the more difficult concepts accessible to all, whilst still stimulating the more experienced reader. There is an excellent referencing system to articles, books and papers for further reading.
I have now had this book for a year, and still find hours of pleasure thumbing through and discovering new facts and areas of interest to provoke further reading.