Volcanologists venture to treacherous volcanoes the world over
in the pursuit of their science. They work around craters of
boiling magma and amidst smoke, flames, scorched rocks, and clouds
of noxious gases--balancing personal risk against advancing
knowledge about one of nature's most dangerous and unpredictable
forces. Richard Fisher, a world-renowned volcanologist, has had
more than forty years of experience in the field. In this book, he
blends autobiography with clear, accessible science to introduce
readers to the basics of volcanology and to the wonders of
volcanoes that he has studied and learned to both fear and
admire.
In the course of the book, we follow Fisher as he descends into
the steaming crater of the Soufri re Volcano on the island of St.
Vincent, as he conducts research on lava flows on the desolate
south shore of the Island of Hawaii, and as he struggles to
understand the explosion at Mount St. Helens. We learn about his
pioneering work on pyroclastic flows and surges--the hurricanes of
gases, molten lava, and volcanic debris that cause most of the
death and destruction when volcanoes explode. He tells of solving a
historic scientific problem at Mount Pelee, Martinique, where
29,000 people were killed in a pyroclastic flow in 1902. Fisher
also offers a volcanologist's view of the explosion of Mount
Vesuvius that devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum. He writes about
the cultural rewards and challenges of conducting research in
isolated areas of such countries as Argentina, Mexico, and China.
And he discusses the early influences that steered him toward
volcanology--including his army experiences as a witness to two
atom-bomb explosions at Bikini atoll.
"Out of the Crater" is written in an inviting, nontechnical
style. With its deft combination of personal stories and scientific
information, it is an inspiring account of a remarkable life and a
compelling examination of some of the most spectacular forces
shaping the face of the Earth.
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