Binding: Paperback
Description: Volcanoes are some of the most dramatic expressions of the powerful tectonic forces at work in the Earth beneath our feet. But volcanism a profoundly important feature of Earth and indeed of other planets and moons too encompasses much more than just volcanoes themselves. On a planetary scale volcanism is an indispensable heat release mechanism which on Earth allows the conditions for life. I It releases gases into the atmosphere and produces enormous volumes of rock and spectacular landscapes - landscapes which during major eruptions can be completely reshaped in a matter of hours. Through geological time volcanism has shaped both climate and biological evolution and volcanoes can affect human life too for both good and ill. Yet even after much study some of the fundamental aspects of volcanicity remain mysterious. This Very Short Introduction takes the readers into the inferno of a racing pyroclastic current and the heart of a moving lava flow as understood through the latest scientific research. Exploring how volcanologists forensically decipher how volcanoes work Michael Branney and Jan Zalasiewicz explain what we do (and don't) understood about the fundamental mechanisms of volcanism and consider how volcanoes interact with other physical processes on the Earth with life and with human society. About THE Series: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket - sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Title: Volcanoes: A Very Short Introduction
Author(s): Zalasiewicz Jan (Professor School Of Geography Geology And The Environment University Of Leicester)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Barcode: 9780199582204
Pages: 192 Pages, Some Black And White Images
Publication Date: 2/1/2021
Series: Very Short Introductions
Category: Physical Geography & Topography