Volcanoes are some of the most dramatic expressions of the powerful
tectonic forces at work in the Earth beneath our feet. But
volcanism, a profoundly important feature of Earth, and indeed of
other planets and moons too, encompasses much more than just
volcanoes themselves. On a planetary scale, volcanism is an
indispensable heat release mechanism, which on Earth allows the
conditions for life. IIt releases gases into the atmosphere and
produces enormous volumes of rock, and spectacular landscapes -
landscapes which, during major eruptions, can be completely
reshaped in a matter of hours. Through geological time volcanism
has shaped both climate and biological evolution, and volcanoes can
affect human life, too, for both good and ill. Yet, even after much
study, some of the fundamental aspects of volcanicity remain
mysterious. This Very Short Introduction takes the readers into the
inferno of a racing pyroclastic current, and the heart of a moving
lava flow, as understood through the latest scientific research.
Exploring how volcanologists forensically decipher how volcanoes
work, Michael Branney and Jan Zalasiewicz explain what we do (and
don't) understood about the fundamental mechanisms of volcanism,
and consider how volcanoes interact with other physical processes
on the Earth, with life, and with human society. ABOUT THE SERIES:
The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press
contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These
pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new
subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis,
perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and
challenging topics highly readable.
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