Publisher's Synopsis
Volcanoes are categorically one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring features of the physical world. Volcanoes are so widely considered to be agents of destruction that their contribution to the development of Earth is often overlooked. Volcanoes have been a major contributor to the building of continents as well as the ocean floor. The waters of the ocean and gases of the atmosphere are believed to have been derived from the cooling of magma and to have reached the surface through volcanoes and hot springs. Volcanic eruptions are the surface expression of deep Earth processes. Volcanology is again experiencing a period of heightened public awareness and scientific growth in the 1980s, the worst period since 1902 in terms of volcanic disasters and crises. A review of hazards mitigation approaches and techniques indicates that significant advances have been made in hazards assessment, volcano monitoring, and eruption forecasting. Studies of magma-induced seismicity and ground deformation continue to provide the most systematic and reliable data for early detection of precursors to eruptions and shallow intrusions. In addition, some other geophysical monitoring techniques and geochemical methods have been refined and are being more widely applied and tested. This book is intended to present a comprehensive coverage on the principal types of volcanic hazards, the damage and loss due to volcanic activity in recent decades, the present state of hazard awareness and future prospects. Throughout the book case studies are presented of historically relevant volcanic and seismic hazards and disasters as well as recent catastrophes. This book describes the main types of seismic signals at volcanoes, their nature and spatial and temporal distributions at different stages of eruptive activity. The impact of volcanic eruptions, one of the most powerful display forces of nature, was poorly understood until recent developments in volcanology. The impact of large eruptions on climate is a major reason that an understanding of volcanic phenomena is important for society today. The relationship between people and volcanoes is as old as the human race. Most of the Earth's crust is of magmatic origin, attesting to the enormous role that volcanic and related magmatic processes have played in forming the outermost solid rind of our planet. In addition, the distribution of volcanoes, past and present, can be closely linked to the dynamics of the crust and mantle within a plate tectonics context. This volume will be of valuable to practitioners as well as researchers dealing with the field.
