Book Description

Mount Rainier is the largest and most dangerous volcano in the country, both an awesome natural monument and a formidable presence of peril. In The Measure of a Mountain, Barcott sets out to grasp the spirit of Rainier through a journey along its massive flanks. From forest to precipice, thinning air to fractured glaciers, he explores not only the physique of Rainier but the psychology and meaning of all mountains, and the deep connection that exists between humans and landscape.

Filled with adventure, poignant personal reflections, and fascinating mountain lore told by Indian chiefs, professional guides, priests, and scientists, this book is one man's stirring quest to reconcile with a dazzling creation of nature, at once alluring and sometimes deadly. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A great read.
Living in Seattle, I see Rainier everyday it shows itself and like Barcott, I still get a thrill everytime. This was such a well written, enjoyable book by an regular guy instead of the usual mountain book by some super climber. I certainly learned a lot about the mountain itself and it's history. I loved the ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks "hey, I could climb that mountain". It is a lot harder and dangerous than people think. I hope Barcott writes some more books, he's a great writer.

A fine book -- even better than his rough draft
I found Bruce Barcott's "Measure of a Mountain" very compelling, and not merely because I was searching for the spot where Bruce promised to include my name (it's on Page 53). Indeed, "Measure" is a fine read for any armchair mountaineer, and it's a steal at the current price. I'd buy two if I were you. Bruce is a dear old friend, and I regard him not only as the tallest writer I know (he's 6-foot-3 if he's an inch, I swear) but also as a valuable hiking companion -- because at his height he is more visible to search parties. Yet, Bruce's easy-reading book belies the vast research that went into it, as well as the large amounts of caffeine he consumed once his deadline approached. I know I speak for Bruce when I say that EVERYONE who enjoyed "Measure of a Mountain" (especially the more expensive hard-cover edition) ought to call Bruce at his home in Seattle and invite him out on a hike around Mount Rainier. He's got a new baby, so I'm told that he's usually awake between midnight and 3 a.m.

My Favorite Book Ever
I think if I were stranded on a deserted island, I would want a copy of this book as well as all those Dostoevsky's I've always promised myself I would read one day. Being an avid climber, this is probably my favorite book of all times, and the book I am always sure to purchase as a gift for others to enjoy. This is NOT a climbing guide or a book just for the climbing community (although we love it). This is a book for anyone who loves the Pacific Northwest, mountains, mountain weather, great stories of adventure and tragedy, geology, hight altitude bugs, plants, animals, and good humor. Each chapter unfolds an entire diverse topic. You'll find yourself going back and reading your favorite chapters.

You'll Be Looking for People to Read This Book To!
I bought this book a couple of years ago and have reread it twice already. The first time I read it I found myself hunting down my husband over and over saying "you've got to listen to this"... Parts of the book are laugh-out-loud funny. But in addition to the humor, the book is a well-written and imformative glimpse into all facets of Mt. Rainier. I've been in love with this mountain since I was a child, and I highly recommend this interesting book by a talented author.

Trying to Measure up to Ranier
If you are interested in the outdoors, American history, geology, glaciology, entomology or ecology, then this book is worth your time. Barcott has assembled a witty, introspective book on all things Rainier.

I had never heard of Barcott until a friend sent me this book in preparation for a trip to Rainier. By the time I finished the book, I was equally more drawn to and fearful of the mountain than before. And Barcott is in good company. Jon Krakauer, who had the same effect on Everest in the minds of many several years ago with Into Thin Air, has some impressive things to say about Barcott's work on the back cover.

At one point, while discussing the natural sciences as Rainier relates to them, Barcott mentions that "science isn't truth, it's merely our best stab at it." In describing this book, I'd characterize it not as an authoritative work on Rainier, but Barcott's personal best stab at it. This is a fun, non-scholarly book that offers insight into virtually every aspect of Rainier, including the history of how it got its name, the bugs that inhabit the mountain, the annual dance of glacial shift, the wild flowers that keep the mountains delicate ecology in balance and the people who are drawn to the mountain, each for their own reasons.

Rainier is an intriguing mountain, and Measure of a Mountain is equally intriguing. Barcott's no nonsense, balanced style makes you feel like you are talking to a friend about their own obsession with Rainier, and his descriptions of hikes around the perimeter of the mountain make you feel like you are suffering the bug bites and soaking in the sublime surroundings right there with him. Most of all, Measure of a Mountain is a vivid portrait of one man's attempt to find balance and to understand himself in light of his surroundings and Barcott's style set against the backdrop of Rainier delivers an account free of the indulgence and self-obsession that so typically taints writers.

This is a good book, and worth a few hours of your time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robert Yeats, a retired professor of geosciences at Oregon State University, knows that earthquakes, small or large, aren't news in California. What is news is how badly prepared most Californians are for the eventuality; scientists there have developed the world's most comprehensive program of disaster management, forecasting, and quake-resistant construction codes, Yeats suggests, but ordinary people have done little to improve their odds of survival. Yeats traces the state's earthquake history of hundreds of years, recounting many episodes of mayhem and destruction. He examines the evolution of building codes, prediction methods, and the role of governmental agencies in civil defense. Most helpful of all, he offers Californians easily followed pointers on preparing for the inevitable, such as making an "earthquake kit" of food, tools, and supplies and developing a neighborhood plan for mutual assistance.

Yeats writes, "Ultimately, the book's value may be measured after the next large earthquake, when we ask ourselves, 'Were we ready?'" He's correct. No other book covers quite as much ground, and anyone who lives in earthquake country, and not just in the Golden State, will find this primer useful. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can't Live With 'Em And Can't Live Without 'Em
Living With Earthquakes In California by Robert Yeats is an excellent book. I bought the book on the strength of The Geology Of Earthquakes, a textbook Yeats co-authored, but I never expected a book that would rival Bruce Bolt's Earthquakes in my mind. Even though the book is focused on California [Yeats also has one coming out on the Pacific Northwest], it is comprehensive enough to be an all purpose reference on earthquakes. The book covers everything from the science of earthquakes to earthquake insurance. People that find Bolt a little too difficult will find Yeats a little more comprehensible. While the College Board mulls over whether to instate an AP Geology course, I'm already compiling my supplemental reading list for the class and this book will be at the top of the list. ... Read more

Book Description

Some of the greatest disasters in history were caused by volcanic eruptions. Apart from their immediate effects, which in some cases have altered the course of human civilization, large eruptions also have world-wide atmospheric effects, with implications for the global climate that are of increasing international concern. This book, gives a readable, straightforward account--much of it from first-hand experience--of the familiar violent aspects of volcanoes and the various forms that eruptions can take.The author also goes beyond the spectacular visible displays to explore why volcanoes exist, why they occur where they do, and how examples of major historical eruptions can be interpreted in terms of physical processes.Throughout he places volcanism in a planetary perspective, exploring the preeminent role of submarine volcanism on Earth and the stunning range of volcanic phenomena revealed by spacecraft exploration of the solar system. Students of geology, geography, and the environment, as well as the interested general reader, will find this richly illustrated book a stimulating source of expert information on one of nature's most dramatic phenomena. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Still the best book on volcanoes
Though I read quite a number of books on volcanism, I'd say, this is certainly the best (hard to believe, it is already 7 years old! and still mostly up-to-date). It covers virtually all important topics in a very clear way and should be understandable not only to the specialist but also to the educated layman. It contains certainly the best review of extraterrestrial volcanism I have read so far, though there are books specifically dedicated to that topic. 5 stars galore! ... Read more

Book Description

The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Did this city actually exist, and, if so, what happened to it? Was it destroyed in the greatest cataclysmic event of the Bronze Age? While the truth behind the legend of Atlantis may never be known, Fire in the Sea tells the story of one of the largest and most devastating natural disasters of classical history that may also hold vital clues to the possible existence and fate of the lost city. In vivid prose, author Walter L. Friedrich describes the eruption of the Greek island of Santorini, or Thera, sometime in the 17th or 16th century BC. This eruption, perhaps one of the largest explosions ever witnessed by humankind, sent a giant cloud of volcanic ash into the air that eventually covered settlements on the island. Friedrich relates how this event forever altered the course of civilization in the region, and inspired a mystery that has fired humanity's imagination ever since.More than 160 elegant, full-color photographs and vivid prose capture the beauty, the geology, archaeology, history, peoples and environmental setting of Santorini. Fire in the Sea will readily appeal to the general reader interested in natural catastrophies as well as the beauty of the region.It will also enchant anyone who has ever dreamt about uncovering the mystery of the legend of Atlantis. Walter Friedrich is currently an associate professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark.He has visited Santorini at least 35 times since 1975 and has published numerous scientific articles in such international journals as Nature, Lethaia, Spektrum der Wissenschaft, and other publications. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Clarification: Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980.
The first customer review's comment on Mount St. Helens requires a correction. Mount St. Helens erupted in May 1980, well before this book was written.

Ash particles from this 1980 eruption in Washington State's Cascade Mountains were thrown high enough to be caught up in the jet stream and deposited in a fine-grained plume that extended all the way around the world. This prompted publication of tongue-in-cheek picture postcards that proclaimed, "Don't come to Washington: Washington will come to you!"

But since the book was originally published in Germany, the authors may be forgiven for expecting comparisons with Stromboli and Vesuvius to have more interest for their target audience. An Indonesian author of a similar book might well have focused on comparisons with Krakatoa.

An approachable discourse on the subject
It was truly an exciting experience which found me capering about loose scoria ridges looming over the still fuming caldera several feet about the beach; I felt quite daring, especially as I am extremely afraid of heights! I learned a lot that I had missed by dropping out of my degree program prior to going on my summer field camp. There were examples of debris flows, unconformities, erosional channels, wind formations, faulting, uplift of sea bed strata with fossiliferous deposits, all an education in themselves. I also learned that hours on end in the hot sun plotting individual grains of rock for size, shape, color, angularity, and inclination is not my cup of tea. It makes a great summer vacation for the enthusiastic amateur, but I couldn't imagine it as a permanent, full time job. I decided I had missed nothing by remaining a nurse, and looked forward to a publication of results that I could enjoy in the quiet of my own home!

Just such a report has since be published (2000). I had the great good fortune to discover Walter L. Friedrich's volume Fire in the Sea while browsing the various Amazon links from another book on geology. Although it's not an in depth geological or archaeological survey of the research on the island, it is an excellent compendium for the page length of what is known about it with respect to these two topics. Above all it is an approachable discourse on the tectonic history of Santorini, both ancient and modern. There are wonderful photos of the various vistas around the island-many of which I recognized from my own visit there--and several maps that show the development of the site through time. Reports of volcanism and earthquake activity through the ages are included from earlier authors that give an almost biographical character to the story of Santorini or ancient Thera, and there are several illustrations of Minoan art work that help recreate the character of the island prior to the eruption for which the volcano is most noted and often cited, that during Minoan times ca. 1700 BC. At the end of the book in Appendix 1, the author has included one of Plato's Dialogs discussing the ancient tale of Atlantis with which the island has been linked by a number of researchers.

I found the book to be an excellent discourse on the geology of the island but was a little disappointed in that there was so little about the archaeological site of Akrotiri, especially as geologists-including Dr. Floyd McCoy, with whom I worked and who is mentioned in the volume-have been very helpful in illuminating some of the events of the city's last moments. The excavation site is fascinating, as the structures are preserved in places up to second stories. The faulted stair case (p. 70) is included and is one of the most emotive sights in the devestated city, but a more thorough discussion of the site and what is believed to have occurred there during the eruption that ended its life is a very stirring tale, one that could have lent a greater sense of the moment to the reader. It would also illustrate how the activities of archaeology and geology are integrated to generate productive results. Although the author discusses in brief some of the concerns of the modern inhabitants of the island, I would also have enjoyed more photos of the modern towns in the area, since I suspect they are very like those that have existed on the island since antiquity. A discussion of their own history and likely future would have added a sense of continuity to the tale of Santorini

An outstanding, informative account for geology students.
This in-depth survey of the Santorini volcano's natural history and its connections to the Atlantis legend will hold special appeal for students of volcanism and geology: Fire in the Sea is packed with color photos of the volcano, relics, excavations, and maps; and it includes in-depth discussions of volcanism in general. An outstanding, involving account for the dedicated student of geology.

A Bronze Age Blast
This is a lucid and informative book for both ancient history buffs and those interested in volcanos. The book discusses the Santorini volcano system is detail, and outlines the history of eruptions from the remote past to the present day. The greatest emphasis is on the eruption of 1640 B.C., one of the most violent volcanic explosions of all time.

The text, maps and drawings are excellent, and the author presents not only what we know about the Santorini volcano, but how the scientific conclusions evolved and what the evidence is behind them. The book was published in Germany in 1994, which means that the eruption of Mt. St. Helens had not yet occurred when the book was written. Too bad -- that would have been an excellent example for the author to compare to Santorini.

As a bonus, the cover, the paper quality, printing and photos are all superior to those in most hardback books available today. ... Read more

Book Description

This textbook for upper division undergraduates and graduate students provides the ideal introduction to seismology. A student-friendly text fully details the fundamental concepts and includes a step-by-step development of the relevant mathematics. Beginning with clear examples of introductory topics such as one-dimensional problems and liquid media, the book goes on to cover most of the fundamental concepts in seismology. The author describes the application of seismology to the knowledge of the structure of the earth's interior and the origin and nature of earthquakes. Coverage includes seismic wave propagation, normal mode theory, ray theory approximation, body and surface waves, source mechanisms and kinematic and dynamic models. The book also contains appendices on useful mathematical tools and includes extensive problems that help students to understand the basic concepts in this area. ... Read more

Book Description

Those who survive major earthquakes often report the occurrence of mysterious phenomena beforehand — unusual animal and plant behavior, lightning, strange clouds and malfunctioning electrical appliances. In fact these stories are legendary the world over. But are they merely legends? Are the many people who report them just superstitious or suffering from over-active imaginations?

Earthquakes and Animals brings objective science to bear on these old legends. But this is not the suspect science associated with recent attempts to validate UFO sightings. The book places in front of the reader the simple laboratory evidence for the behaviour of animals, plants and objects when they are subjected to intense electromagnetic pulses. In many cases they behave in ways that have been recorded for centuries — and are still reported today — as earthquake-related.

Written for both the general public and scientists, Earthquakes and Animals demonstrates experimentally a physical basis for the old earthquake legends. It also adds tantalisingly to the science of earthquake prediction and cautiously suggests a legitimate new field of study — electromagnetic seismology. ... Read more

Book Description

This revised and thoroughly updated edition maintains and develops the two major themes of the first edition. First is the connection between fault and earthquake mechanics, including fault scaling laws, the nature of fault populations, and how these result from the processes of fault growth and interaction. Second is the central role of the rate-state friction laws in earthquake mechanics, which provide a unifying framework within which a wide range of faulting phenomena can be interpreted. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Faultless book on faults?
Christopher Scholz has written a welcome update to the classic 1990 edition of his book, and if you thought that Crustal Deformation was a field where nothing exciting happens, think again! Substantial chunks of the book have been re-written and re-organized to bring the text bang up-to-date with the cutting edge of tectonics and rock mechanics research.
The beauty of this book is that Scholz, along with his students and research associates, basically has been the cutting edge of research in this field for the past 30 years. The book therefore reads as a guide to the evolution of ideas and a personal memoir of scientific exploration, while allowing the reader to follow the same thought processes, and more fully understand what we currently think regarding these subjects.
The text is a monograph, quite different from the usual condescending tone found in textbooks, and can be understood and appreciated by readers of widely differing abilities, from interested laymen to fellow researchers. Thorough explanations are given for each topic, with examples taken from actual scientific papers, putting the reader in touch with the original papers, a glaring omission in many other textbooks. The language is never more complicated than it needs to be, and Scholz's straight-forward explanations and no-nonsense style make comprehension almost too easy, leaving the reader a real feeling that one has learned something at the end, which will come as a breath of fresh air to any student that has suffered through a horribly dull and irrelevent lecture, only to remain scratching their head at the end.
The book is a tribute to the intellect and longeivity of the man's career, blessed as he is with a happy knack for being proven "right" by the passing of time, and continuing accumulation of research results. A classic text, and again, a must-read for anyone with a desire to know more about the planet we live on. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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 ... Read more

Reviews (3)

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 errors that even a layperson like myself could spot:

• "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).

• The destruction of Saint Pierre by Mount Pelée: "only six individuals from the city survived (p. 172)"---Actually there were three survivors, but two died soon after being rescued. "The third, a convicted murderer liberated from an underground jail cell three days after the disaster, recovered from his burns and emigrated to the United States to live out his years as an attraction in the Barnum & Bailey Circus." (from "Perils of a Restless Planet" by Ernest Zebrowski, Jr.).

• "One of the most powerful ([Richter] M = 9.1) and destructive earthquakes of the 20th century, the Good Friday earthquake struck the south coast of Alaska along Prince William Sound on March 27, 1964 (p. 84)." On the following page, the caption under a picture states, "The [Good Friday] earthquake had a Richter magnitude of 8.5..." I checked a couple of other books which give the Richter magnitude as 8.3 and 8.6, so I am guessing that Richter M = 9.1 is probably incorrect.

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 Richter Scale which defines an earthquake's magnitude in terms of the seismographically recorded ground motion.

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, although I may be cross-checking some of its entries.

"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.) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Volcanoes for beginners
When I saw the cover of Chasing Lava, I had to pick it up.
For many of us who live on the tops of these under seas volcanoes, the thought is never far away--How did it happen and are these dormant giants going to remain dormant? After all, dormant comes from the root word meaning to sleep. Sleeping things can awaken.
Anyway, Duffield takes us by the hand and helps us to understand how they came to be. And he does so in a simple enough fashion and with enough humor and local color, to make the whole journey from the middle of the earth to its verdant surface a lark. Tke the trip. It's fascinating. By the way, Pele continues to increase the size of the
Island of Hawaii--that process which Duffield experienced 35 years ago--and she seems in no hurry to stop.

Trying to Understand Pele
This is a wonderful book. It combines science, adventure, and the personal journal of a geologist who spent 3 years working with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. It includes a major eruption, measuring the ups, downs, and side slips of Kilauea Volcano's surface, and watching the movements of the surface crust on a lava lake that mimics the dance of the Earth's tectonic plates. Trying to understand how active volcanoes work has captivated nearly all the scientists who have studied them, and Duffield's book gives good insight into how and why. ... Read more

Book Description

Practical information about dangers around the world.

Instant communication from around the world has raised the level of interest in global hazards. Natural disasters receive immediate coverage, and in some cases their effects can be felt across continents.

This book is a compelling, richly illustrated guide to the many large-scale natural disasters that affect and afflict life on Earth -- both globally and locally. Written in clear, understandable terms, Firefly Guide to Global Hazards is essential reading for anyone interested in or concerned about the environment, geophysics and political affairs. The book provides concise descriptions of all types of hazards and the threats they pose.

Some of the global hazards covered are: - Earthquakes, volcanoes, fires - Flooding, coastal erosion, tsunami - Hurricanes, tornadoes, winds - Avalanches, landslides, snow and ice - Desertification, drought, famine, diseases - Pollution, ozone depletion, global warming - Comets, meteorites, mass extinctions

The book uses case histories to explain the causes, effects and some of the solutions for each hazard or disaster. Illustrated with 200 color photographs and drawings and more than 100 maps, charts, tables and diagrams, this book is an encyclopedia for the curious and the concerned. ... Read more

Book Description

Today there is no one left alive who experienced the great earthquake in San Francisco in 1906. That is why it is important to tell the story. Many recall the terrible quake there in 1989, which caused a rupture in the earth of 25 miles and measured about 7.0 on the Richter scale. The 1906 quake had a rupture of 290 miles and was estimated at 7.8 and, by some, up to 8.3 on the Richter scale. It released 16 times the amount of energy as the 1989 quake (at a minimum). It boggles the mind to imagine what it was like near the epicenter. This is the story of what it was like -- told by the survivors, rescuers and eyewitnesses to the immense power, and terror, that was unleashed that day. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very interesting and informative!
I found this book to be quite interesting and easy to read. It gives a detailed eye-witness account to the destruction caused by the series of earthquakes in the early 1800's. If you are looking for a technical book about the Rift Zone, this book is not for you because it does not go into much detail about the fault itself. However, it does tell of the relation of the current geology and how it was effected by the earthquakes. Generally, I found this book very enjoyable and I suggest it for anyone who is interested in the learning more about the potential hazards that lie below the Mississippi Valley. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good intro to geology
In addition to earthquakes, much of this reference provides a review of the Earth's geological features such as rift valleys and continental drift.

Exceptionally Interesting
This book explained everything and more about the things I ever wanted to know about eaarthquakes. I've picked this book up for my research on eathquakes, and believe me this book had everything. The facts are well presented and the best part was that this book wasn't boring at like the other informative books. ... Read more

Book Description

Volcanoes, earthquakes, and giant killer tidal waves called tsunamis . . . We think of these events as disasters, but for Earth they are merely business as usual.This dramatically illustrated book describes some of the more than 3,000 active volcanoes scattered around the planet, and chronicles many of history's most devastating volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tidal waves. The author explains that volcanoes and earthquakes both result from movement of the Earth's vast tectonic plates, and are most likely to occur at or near places where two or more plates come together. Such movement has been going on since the Earth's origins, creating mountain ranges and dividing the landmass into separate continents. Described in these pages are volcanic blasts from the past: Vesuvius, Italy in 79 A.D. ... Laki, Iceland in 1783 ... Tambora, Indonesia in 1815 ... Krakatoa, Indonesia in 1883 ... Mount St. Helens, Washington State in 1980 ... Pinatubo, the Philippines in 1991, and others. Also chronicled are earthquakes that have struck large population centers, producing disasters in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1755, San Francisco in 1906, Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan, in 1923, and Kobe, Japan, in 1995. The Earth's major trouble spots and likely targets for future earthquakes are described. Urban areas in greatest danger continue to be those along the Pacific Rim, which encompasses North America's West Coast and most of Japan's cities. Here is an intensely readable summary of natural disasters that have struck the earth, along with informed speculation on how and when similar events will recur in the future. More than 200 color illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A splendid guide to tectonic hazards
This book is a five-star summation of the numerous tectonic hazards faced by human civilization. It is impressively written and contains numerous, informative color photographs and diagrams. Each discussion is separated and encapsulated into a mini-chapter; a format I find facilitates depth of understanding. Target Earth!, by Duncan Steel, covering impact hazards from asteroids and comets, is similarly well organized.

The book is very up-to-date in terms of the science involved. The discusssion of the mega-tsunami hazard from La Palma volcano in the Canary Islands is especially impressive, and frightening.
The entire United States East Coast is threatened by a landslide and giant tsunami from this volcano. All such cities will be destroyed if the worst case scenario takes place.

While the world very likely is not going to end tomorrow, it can be greatly readjusted by powerful tectonic forces leaving great destruction in their wake. Anyone interested in geology or geophysics, or living in a tectonically active area should read this book closely. The same goes for any coastal dweller, with respect to tsunami threats.

I recommend this book very highly. ... Read more