Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes: New Edition

by David Ritchie and Alexander E. Gates

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816045836
• ISBN13: 9780816045839
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Checkmark Books
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent reference covering specific earthquakes/volcanoes

It's exactly what the title says. Very dry, just the facts, but very extensive and detailed. If you're looking for a great reference book or if you like to read concise factual summaries....then you'll love this book.

A work in progress

This encyclopedia begins with an entry for `aa' (a particular type of lava flow) and ends with a page-worth of data on Yellowstone National Park. In between, all geophysical phenomena associated with earthquakes and volcanoes are covered alphabetically, including anecdotes on many individual eruptions or shakings, e.g. the Kobe earthquake in Japan. I enjoyed reading the "Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes" but thought it must be a work in progress (I have the new edition) as there were many typos and one astronomical quibble: * "Io is the hottest place in the solar system outside the sun (p. 105)"---actually I believe that honor belongs to Venus. Io's average surface temperature is 130 K whereas the surface of Venus averages 740 K (hotter even than Mercury). Another interesting oddity concerning earthquakes, is that the authors tend to favor the Mercalli Scale, which is based on ordinary human observations, rather than the Moment magnitude. Not all of the black-and-white photographs are dated, and the cover photograph of a volcanic eruption is not identified (although a friend of mine from Oregon swears it is Mt. St. Helens). Ideally, a newer edition of this book will label all of the photographs, and perhaps include a few in color. All quibbling aside, this is an interesting book that fills a useful niche. It will definitely remain in my reference library. "Appendix B" which includes "Eyewitness Accounts of Major Eruptions and Quakes" is absolutely fascinating, and it alone is worth the price of the book.

I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK!

Hi, I really like this book. It's bben helpfully to me for my carrer. Thanks, Michelle Trzecisnki

Excellent introduction.

In a unique and very handy A-Z format, here in one volume is all the information you are ever likely to need on these most dramatic natural phenomena. The great earthquakes and famous volcanic eruptions are comprehensively covered, with clear explanations of the geologic concepts and terms, interesting photos and maps, and thumbnail biographies of leading figures in the study of these majestic forces of nature. A particularly interesting feature is the inclusion of each state with an evaluation of its seismic potential. (There are some surprises here). Highly recommended as a very useful single-volume introduction for libraries and interested individuals. (The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)