Volcanoes

by Rosaly Lopes

ISBN: 978-1-85168-725-1

First published 2010

143 pages

Cover design by vaguelymemorable.com

Publisher: oneworld-publications.com

4/5 Stars

A great introduction to volcanoes, that starts with the following words, “we could also compare volcanoes to cats: with few exceptions, they spend most of their lives asleep”.

For chemists and geologists the author lists the type of magma and its chemical content, some magma flows more easily than others, Baslate to Rhyolite.

We learn the different types of volcanoes;

• Fissure
• Shield
• Strombolian
• Vulcanian
• Peléean
• Plinian
• UltraPlinian

There are great descriptions of some of the major eruptions in human history.

What stands out is the Icelandic eruption of Eldfell, Heimey Island which was the first documented instance of humans being able to divert a lava flow.

In the last few years the study of volcanoes has been revolutionized by the advent of scientific data from our solar system and other star systems. Volcanism is present throughout the universe.

Jupiter’s moon Europa is below – one of the most promising candidates for finding active volcanism and perhaps even life.