When the Earth Explodes: Volcanoes and the Environment

The well documented science of volcanology is based on evidence gleaned from the great eruptions of the past 200 years. It proves that volcanoes are the only significant source of global air pollution.

Going backward from the medium sized eruptions of Pinatubo 1991 in the Philippines and El Chicon 1981 in Mexico, Dawson tells his story of how volcanoes and NOT man burning fossil fuels causes global air pollution. His chapter of Pinatubo is from the eye witness account from his nephew, the U.S. Navy Supply Officer stationed at Subic Bay.

He shows by volcano studies and graphs that for over 200 years 95% of global air pollution has come from volcanoes, that there has been NO global warming trend over the last 200 years. He also defines the ozone (what it is and does, and explains the hole in the ozone and how it works). He describes "the Greenhouse Effect" as over rated and tells what really occurs that could or could not cause future problems with global warming.

Part II of this book covers the six most significant eruptions in recorded history and graphically illustrates (often with eyewitness narrative) the awesome power of a single volcano and the ridiculous notion of man trying to control it. Vesuvius 79 AD Executioner of Pompeii Laki 1783 Skaptor Jokel, Iceland and the Plague Tambora 1815 50 cubic miles of dust into the atmosphere Krakatoa 1883 The loudest explosion Pelee Martinique 1902 30,000 people cremated in 6 seconds Katmai, Alaska 1912 North America's greatest blast

And, finally, this book includes a digest of trivia about other eruptions including St. Helens, Yellowstone and the Bermuda Triangle. A convincing theory on Atlantis, what happened to the dinosaurs. Also a volcanic explanation of Bible stories such as the parting of the Red Sea, and others all created by the world's largest historic eruption at San Torini in 1600 B.C.

It also discusses Mt. Erebus, a volcano that erupts pure gold dust, and Pelee that sent a stone obelisk one hundred times the size of the Washington Monument up a slow elevator where it stood above the volcano 180 days and then slowly went back down into the crater. If this doesn't sound beyond the power of man, how about the woman whose panties were eaten off the wash line by an eruption (Katmai, 1500 miles away in Alaska) or a volcano that erupted hotel sized boulders on Sakurajima, Japan? The book also tells the good that comes from volcanoes, including a chapter on Atoll Island Building by James Michener and little known facts such as volcanoes as the only source of new water and probably all water on earth.

In summary, the significance of this book is that it reads like an action novel, yet brings into focus the facts about the greatest environmental challenges we currently face. This book revives the ancient concepts of volcano religion in which it is more clear now that volcanoes, not man, giveth and taketh away.