Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

An updated look at earthquakes, volcanoes, and other natural disasters.

Praise for the hardcover edition:
"...detailed...There are no other similar works."—School Library Journal

Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Third Edition brings the excitement of an ever-changing field of science to the forefront. The natural disasters of recent years have been among the worst in history—the burgeoning world population is clearly expanding faster than our disaster reduction technology. This edition features approximately 1,500 cross-referenced entries, and provides a single source on historical earthquakes and volcanic eruptions from all over the world.

Updated with the most current information, this illustrated resource includes not only new geologic events, but also as many examples of historical earthquakes as possible for contrast or comparison. Coverage in the Middle East has been significantly expanded to include recent natural disasters, as well as events such as landslides and avalanches. In addition, many tables were added to supplement the content and put the recent disasters into historical context.

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