Sunday, April 12, 2009

Volcanoes: Eruptions and Other Volcanic Hazards

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Volcanic eruptions are some of the most spectacular of all natural phenomena, yet they are also among the most dangerous geological hazards. Eruptions may send blocks of rock, ash, and gas tens of thousands of feet into the atmosphere, and individual eruptions have been responsible for killing tens of thousands of people. The hazards associated with volcanic eruptions are not limited to the immediate threat from flowing lava and ash; they may also include long-term atmospheric and climate effects, changes to land use patterns, and the livelihood of human populations."Volcanoes" examines the different types of volcanic eruptions - starting with an introduction to volcanoes, volcanic landforms, and plate tectonics, followed by a detailed description of the various characteristics of magma that lead to differences in eruption style. The classification of igneous rocks, the extreme hazards associated with volcanism, and the prediction of eruptions are some of the many important topics examined in this reference.

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