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Product Description
Few events in nature are as awe-inspiring and destructive as a powerful earthquake or a massive volcanic eruption. This work explains the specific terms and concepts associated with the sciences of catastrophe - seismology and volcanology - and covers the places of the world where these destructive phenomena have occurred. Revised and updated, this A-Z resource covers various regions of the world and their seismic and/or volcanic activities, specific major eruptions and earthquakes throughout history, geologic or scientific terms,and people who have influenced these fields of science. Entries include terms and concepts such as: caldera, stratovolcano, S-waves, liquefaction, harmonic tremors, and other topics. This edition contains: updated geographic locations and damage estimates for certain areas; enhanced contents on the geologic processes; new definitions of geologic terms; an updated chronology of important earthquakes and eruptions; and a sries of eyewitness descriptions ranging from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD to Mount Pelee in 1902.
Amazon.com Review
From aa to Yellowstone, if it's got anything at all to do with earthquakes or volcanoes, you're likely to find within the pages of this updated encyclopedia from science journalist David Ritchie and Rutgers geology professor Alexander Gates.
The 1,000-plus alphabetical listings range from historical volcanoes and quakes (both famous and obscure) to entries on specific seismic phenomena (everything from parasitic cones to jökulhlaup) and general geological principles, including a few excellent in-depth discussions on topics like plate tectonics and seismic wave types. The encyclopedia also contains a lengthy bibliography, a list of Internet resources, a chronological listing of notable quakes and eruptions, and a handful of unforgettable eyewitness accounts (after the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, apparently Pliny the Elder's party went out "having pillows tied upon their heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the storm of stones that fell around them"). With its clear, newspaper-style entries, the Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes will be navigable even to geo-newbies, but its a-to-z organization makes it more useful as a reference than as a stand-alone text. (Then again, given its liberal cross-referencing, you can easily find yourself led to a long, enjoyable read.) --Paul Hughes
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