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Review
'I have to thank God on my knees that Oppenheimer's book did not exist at the time I made my decision to become a filmmaker. I might have become a volcanologist instead.' Werner Herzog, film director and producer
'With his characteristic sparkling brilliance, Oppenheimer expertly recasts the latest scientific findings on how volcanoes work as a compelling and readable account that conveys the enduring human fascination for nature's fiery outbursts and their capacity to transform life on this planet.' Professor Iain Stewart, geologist and BBC TV presenter
'In his explosive book, Clive Oppenheimer brilliantly shows how the history of volcanoes and people is a tangled account. From our earliest ancestors to travellers battling with the effects of ash clouds on airline flights, our evolutionary destiny has been played out in the shadow of volcanoes, often with disastrous results.' Professor Clive Gamble, Royal Holloway, University of London
'This is forensic geology in the widest sense and an exciting guided tour of the major volcanic and climatic disasters experienced by human kind. Oppenheimer has a rare talent for bringing the science and history together in a clear and engaging way.' Professor Michael Rampino, New York University
'Writing in his inimitably lively and witty style, Clive Oppenheimer takes us through deep time and deep into volcanoes, teaching us how they work and demonstrating how powerful eruptions have often jostled the human toehold on survival. This tour de force is an astonishingly provocative roadmap to the once and future history of Earth.' Dr Dave Pieri, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
'A fascinating work that will engage not just volcano experts but also those with an interest in history, climatology, archaeology, and geochronology.' Library Journal
'[Oppenheimer] tops them all with a new book, heavy on scientific detail and light on dramatic froth, chronicling eruptions that really did change the world … he thoughtfully makes his case that volcanoes and humankind have been intertwined throughout history, and will continue to be long after the next unpronounceable Icelandic volcano erupts.' ScienceNews
'From just the first chapter, the genius of Clive Oppenheimer in the world of volcanology shines in his book … For any reader interested in learning more about volcanology, whether it be the history or the science behind it, Oppenheimer's book is a plethora of information … [his] passion and lifelong dedication to this subject is evident … It's a subject anyone could approach with caution because of the force that drives these monstrous mountains. However, Oppenheimer takes it dead-on, fearlessly and boldly, pouring his research into the text that derives from a childlike imagination into a man's ambition.' Red Orbit
'Oppenheimer romps through the geological past, detailing some of the major volcanic events and their global impact … well worth diving into.' Kate Ravilious, New Scientist --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'With his characteristic sparkling brilliance, Oppenheimer expertly recasts the latest scientific findings on how volcanoes work as a compelling and readable account that conveys the enduring human fascination for nature's fiery outbursts and their capacity to transform life on this planet.' Professor Iain Stewart, geologist and BBC TV presenter
'In his explosive book, Clive Oppenheimer brilliantly shows how the history of volcanoes and people is a tangled account. From our earliest ancestors to travellers battling with the effects of ash clouds on airline flights, our evolutionary destiny has been played out in the shadow of volcanoes, often with disastrous results.' Professor Clive Gamble, Royal Holloway, University of London
'This is forensic geology in the widest sense and an exciting guided tour of the major volcanic and climatic disasters experienced by human kind. Oppenheimer has a rare talent for bringing the science and history together in a clear and engaging way.' Professor Michael Rampino, New York University
'Writing in his inimitably lively and witty style, Clive Oppenheimer takes us through deep time and deep into volcanoes, teaching us how they work and demonstrating how powerful eruptions have often jostled the human toehold on survival. This tour de force is an astonishingly provocative roadmap to the once and future history of Earth.' Dr Dave Pieri, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
'A fascinating work that will engage not just volcano experts but also those with an interest in history, climatology, archaeology, and geochronology.' Library Journal
'[Oppenheimer] tops them all with a new book, heavy on scientific detail and light on dramatic froth, chronicling eruptions that really did change the world … he thoughtfully makes his case that volcanoes and humankind have been intertwined throughout history, and will continue to be long after the next unpronounceable Icelandic volcano erupts.' ScienceNews
'From just the first chapter, the genius of Clive Oppenheimer in the world of volcanology shines in his book … For any reader interested in learning more about volcanology, whether it be the history or the science behind it, Oppenheimer's book is a plethora of information … [his] passion and lifelong dedication to this subject is evident … It's a subject anyone could approach with caution because of the force that drives these monstrous mountains. However, Oppenheimer takes it dead-on, fearlessly and boldly, pouring his research into the text that derives from a childlike imagination into a man's ambition.' Red Orbit
'Oppenheimer romps through the geological past, detailing some of the major volcanic events and their global impact … well worth diving into.' Kate Ravilious, New Scientist --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'I have to thank God on my knees that Oppenheimer's book did not exist at the time I made my decision to become a filmmaker. I might have become a volcanologist instead.' Werner Herzog, film director and producer
'With his characteristic sparkling brilliance, Oppenheimer expertly recasts the latest scientific findings on how volcanoes work as a compelling and readable account that conveys the enduring human fascination for nature's fiery outbursts and their capacity to transform life on this planet.' Professor Iain Stewart, geologist and BBC TV presenter
'In his explosive book, Clive Oppenheimer brilliantly shows how the history of volcanoes and people is a tangled account. From our earliest ancestors to travellers battling with the effects of ash clouds on airline flights, our evolutionary destiny has been played out in the shadow of volcanoes, often with disastrous results.' Professor Clive Gamble, Royal Holloway, University of London
'This is forensic geology in the widest sense and an exciting guided tour of the major volcanic and climatic disasters experienced by human kind. Oppenheimer has a rare talent for bringing the science and history together in a clear and engaging way.' Professor Michael Rampino, New York University
'Writing in his inimitably lively and witty style, Clive Oppenheimer takes us through deep time and deep into volcanoes, teaching us how they work and demonstrating how powerful eruptions have often jostled the human toehold on survival. This tour de force is an astonishingly provocative roadmap to the once and future history of Earth.' Dr Dave Pieri, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
'A fascinating work that will engage not just volcano experts but also those with an interest in history, climatology, archaeology, and geochronology.' Library Journal
'[Oppenheimer] tops them all with a new book, heavy on scientific detail and light on dramatic froth, chronicling eruptions that really did change the world … he thoughtfully makes his case that volcanoes and humankind have been intertwined throughout history, and will continue to be long after the next unpronounceable Icelandic volcano erupts.' ScienceNews
'From just the first chapter, the genius of Clive Oppenheimer in the world of volcanology shines in his book … For any reader interested in learning more about volcanology, whether it be the history or the science behind it, Oppenheimer's book is a plethora of information … [his] passion and lifelong dedication to this subject is evident … It's a subject anyone could approach with caution because of the force that drives these monstrous mountains. However, Oppenheimer takes it dead-on, fearlessly and boldly, pouring his research into the text that derives from a childlike imagination into a man's ambition.' Red Orbit
'Oppenheimer romps through the geological past, detailing some of the major volcanic events and their global impact … well worth diving into.' Kate Ravilious, New Scientist
'Oppenheimer uses all sorts of evidence to unravel the stories behind some of the greatest and most significant volcanic cataclysms. The book is well illustrated [and] each chapter starts with a well-selected quote and ends with a useful summary … I recommend Eruptions that Shook the World as motivational reading for physics students … to take up the fascinating but challenging mission of understanding the workings of deep Earth and the claims that are made for it.' Physics Today
'With his characteristic sparkling brilliance, Oppenheimer expertly recasts the latest scientific findings on how volcanoes work as a compelling and readable account that conveys the enduring human fascination for nature's fiery outbursts and their capacity to transform life on this planet.' Professor Iain Stewart, geologist and BBC TV presenter
'In his explosive book, Clive Oppenheimer brilliantly shows how the history of volcanoes and people is a tangled account. From our earliest ancestors to travellers battling with the effects of ash clouds on airline flights, our evolutionary destiny has been played out in the shadow of volcanoes, often with disastrous results.' Professor Clive Gamble, Royal Holloway, University of London
'This is forensic geology in the widest sense and an exciting guided tour of the major volcanic and climatic disasters experienced by human kind. Oppenheimer has a rare talent for bringing the science and history together in a clear and engaging way.' Professor Michael Rampino, New York University
'Writing in his inimitably lively and witty style, Clive Oppenheimer takes us through deep time and deep into volcanoes, teaching us how they work and demonstrating how powerful eruptions have often jostled the human toehold on survival. This tour de force is an astonishingly provocative roadmap to the once and future history of Earth.' Dr Dave Pieri, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
'A fascinating work that will engage not just volcano experts but also those with an interest in history, climatology, archaeology, and geochronology.' Library Journal
'[Oppenheimer] tops them all with a new book, heavy on scientific detail and light on dramatic froth, chronicling eruptions that really did change the world … he thoughtfully makes his case that volcanoes and humankind have been intertwined throughout history, and will continue to be long after the next unpronounceable Icelandic volcano erupts.' ScienceNews
'From just the first chapter, the genius of Clive Oppenheimer in the world of volcanology shines in his book … For any reader interested in learning more about volcanology, whether it be the history or the science behind it, Oppenheimer's book is a plethora of information … [his] passion and lifelong dedication to this subject is evident … It's a subject anyone could approach with caution because of the force that drives these monstrous mountains. However, Oppenheimer takes it dead-on, fearlessly and boldly, pouring his research into the text that derives from a childlike imagination into a man's ambition.' Red Orbit
'Oppenheimer romps through the geological past, detailing some of the major volcanic events and their global impact … well worth diving into.' Kate Ravilious, New Scientist
'Oppenheimer uses all sorts of evidence to unravel the stories behind some of the greatest and most significant volcanic cataclysms. The book is well illustrated [and] each chapter starts with a well-selected quote and ends with a useful summary … I recommend Eruptions that Shook the World as motivational reading for physics students … to take up the fascinating but challenging mission of understanding the workings of deep Earth and the claims that are made for it.' Physics Today
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Volcanic eruptions shook the world, or at least a region or town. What was the effect on the environment, climate, and society? To provide answers to such questions the author first introdudes the reader to volcanoes, their eruption styles as well as local and global hazards (climate change). Having then gone through the techniques needed to measure the effects of eruptions, case studies are presented: from Toba, to Santorini, to Laki. Conclusions follow: what is to be done?
In the beginning the book feels like a palimpsest - an uneven mix of lecture transcripts as well as travel and reading notes. At times ponderous and plodding (as befits something to be read by obdurate students over weeks and months), the text can also be light, entertaining and full of insights. One could readily dispense with most of the formulas, or the various methods for estimating eruption magnitudes - I'll trust the specialist with the numbers, for only the outcome counts.
Case studies soon take over. The first is also the most interesting dish: it deals with mantel plumes and their mega-eruptions of the past: Dekkan traps etc. The inner workings of the mantle and core would appear to have punctuated the evolution of life on earth across the eons. Of course, it is all very conjectural, but that's the spice of research. The idea that dinosaurs may have not been zapped by a meteorite alone, though, is worth savouring, after all that has been written about it. For me the link between human origins and volcanism, in one of the next chapters, is exciting. The broad outline - the observation that the Rift might have been an "ideal" place for evolution, makes sense. This insight remains tantalizing, though, because the story is incomplete: issues like early migrations out of Africa (Java and Beijing man), or the role of intertidal zones in the shaping the physiology of the human body cannot be resolved in this limited framework. Chapter 10 on Mesoamerica is delightful for its elegant marshaling of the facts. Toba is cleverly debunked. The role of volcanism in cultural evolution (Europe) is insightful and forceful. On Justinian David Keys Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World might have been referred to: he rightly establishes a link to Mesoamerica.
The final chapter, on "risk control", reflects the Zeitgeist, and is disappointing. Some of the conclusions remind me of the wise words of the French philosopher M. de La Palisse ("if you don't want to get wet, stay out of the rain"). Otherwise grand eruptions are met with grandiose all-encompassing schemes with never-ending lists of priorities and coordination needs, plus international bodies, and what else.
This penchant for "counsel of perfection" is doubled by naļveté. The author mentions the Naples "preparedness plan" - Naples is a city who can't even seem to tackle its garbage removal system. And Italy's preparedness to tackle large risks was tested in 2009 in L'Aquila's earthquake, and found grossly wanting. Reconstruction got mired in corruption and wrangling for political advantage.
As for geo-engineering... well: we have great successes with "scientific" solutions, like cane toads in Australia, right? Why can't we admit that for all the great leaps forward in science our knowledge of the ecological context is woefully limited - and shut up for the duration? Take the example of seeding the oceans with Fe - to increase bacterial photosynthesis. Well, we did not know, until a few years back, that bacteriophages were great actors in this play See Carl ZIMMER A Planet of Viruses, did we? Who else is there, unobserved?
This reference book will stay close at hand in my library - my fervent hope is that rapid accumulation of new evidence will force the author to make fundamental revisions soon. He is assured a repeat client - but please, sort out the beginnings.
On a personal note, this book reminds me of a glorious scene in The Pink Panther movie by Blake Edwards. At midnight in the village, a bevy of cars in succession enter and exit the main square, honking wildly as they careen around a fountain. Each of them catches our attention for a shrieking moment: one recognizes this or the other actor at the wheel, as she pursues his own story into the surrounding darkness. Soon the cars reappear and all ending up in a huge smoking pile. Such is history - even volcanic history - made of many case histories, illuminated for a moment by the light of science. An old man, wanting to cross, stands perplexed, and then sits down to contemplate the final wreckage, bemused.
In the beginning the book feels like a palimpsest - an uneven mix of lecture transcripts as well as travel and reading notes. At times ponderous and plodding (as befits something to be read by obdurate students over weeks and months), the text can also be light, entertaining and full of insights. One could readily dispense with most of the formulas, or the various methods for estimating eruption magnitudes - I'll trust the specialist with the numbers, for only the outcome counts.
Case studies soon take over. The first is also the most interesting dish: it deals with mantel plumes and their mega-eruptions of the past: Dekkan traps etc. The inner workings of the mantle and core would appear to have punctuated the evolution of life on earth across the eons. Of course, it is all very conjectural, but that's the spice of research. The idea that dinosaurs may have not been zapped by a meteorite alone, though, is worth savouring, after all that has been written about it. For me the link between human origins and volcanism, in one of the next chapters, is exciting. The broad outline - the observation that the Rift might have been an "ideal" place for evolution, makes sense. This insight remains tantalizing, though, because the story is incomplete: issues like early migrations out of Africa (Java and Beijing man), or the role of intertidal zones in the shaping the physiology of the human body cannot be resolved in this limited framework. Chapter 10 on Mesoamerica is delightful for its elegant marshaling of the facts. Toba is cleverly debunked. The role of volcanism in cultural evolution (Europe) is insightful and forceful. On Justinian David Keys Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World might have been referred to: he rightly establishes a link to Mesoamerica.
The final chapter, on "risk control", reflects the Zeitgeist, and is disappointing. Some of the conclusions remind me of the wise words of the French philosopher M. de La Palisse ("if you don't want to get wet, stay out of the rain"). Otherwise grand eruptions are met with grandiose all-encompassing schemes with never-ending lists of priorities and coordination needs, plus international bodies, and what else.
This penchant for "counsel of perfection" is doubled by naļveté. The author mentions the Naples "preparedness plan" - Naples is a city who can't even seem to tackle its garbage removal system. And Italy's preparedness to tackle large risks was tested in 2009 in L'Aquila's earthquake, and found grossly wanting. Reconstruction got mired in corruption and wrangling for political advantage.
As for geo-engineering... well: we have great successes with "scientific" solutions, like cane toads in Australia, right? Why can't we admit that for all the great leaps forward in science our knowledge of the ecological context is woefully limited - and shut up for the duration? Take the example of seeding the oceans with Fe - to increase bacterial photosynthesis. Well, we did not know, until a few years back, that bacteriophages were great actors in this play See Carl ZIMMER A Planet of Viruses, did we? Who else is there, unobserved?
This reference book will stay close at hand in my library - my fervent hope is that rapid accumulation of new evidence will force the author to make fundamental revisions soon. He is assured a repeat client - but please, sort out the beginnings.
On a personal note, this book reminds me of a glorious scene in The Pink Panther movie by Blake Edwards. At midnight in the village, a bevy of cars in succession enter and exit the main square, honking wildly as they careen around a fountain. Each of them catches our attention for a shrieking moment: one recognizes this or the other actor at the wheel, as she pursues his own story into the surrounding darkness. Soon the cars reappear and all ending up in a huge smoking pile. Such is history - even volcanic history - made of many case histories, illuminated for a moment by the light of science. An old man, wanting to cross, stands perplexed, and then sits down to contemplate the final wreckage, bemused.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
A Serious Look at Volcanic Eruptions of the Past
16 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover
I gave this book the above rating mainly because it is clear, authoritative, well-written and covers just about every feature of past volcanic eruptions that, I believe, really matters: scientific/technical aspects, environmental effects and impacts on humanity. Also, it is a topic that I find quite fascinating.
After describing in technical detail how volcanoes work, the substances that they emit, their effects on the environment and techniques used to date eruptions, the author reconstructs past volcanism based on available evidence, e.g., geological, archaeological, ice cores, tree rings, etc. He also focuses on a few well-studied eruptions and on lessons learned from them. This information is then used in the reconstructions of likely past eruptions of various volcanoes - both unknown and known - hence the term "forensic volcanology" on which this book focuses. The final chapter contains a discussion on the risks due to volcanoes and on possible emergency preparedness plans for those who could be affected by future eruptions.
With such a catchy title, one would expect that the book would be aimed at the general reader wishing to painlessly learn more about volcanic eruptions. The book certainly has much to offer. However, because it is rather technical and can be a bit heavy-going at times, I believe that it would be better suited for serious science buffs. It could also be used as a supplementary text in university courses on volcanoes and their effects.
After describing in technical detail how volcanoes work, the substances that they emit, their effects on the environment and techniques used to date eruptions, the author reconstructs past volcanism based on available evidence, e.g., geological, archaeological, ice cores, tree rings, etc. He also focuses on a few well-studied eruptions and on lessons learned from them. This information is then used in the reconstructions of likely past eruptions of various volcanoes - both unknown and known - hence the term "forensic volcanology" on which this book focuses. The final chapter contains a discussion on the risks due to volcanoes and on possible emergency preparedness plans for those who could be affected by future eruptions.
With such a catchy title, one would expect that the book would be aimed at the general reader wishing to painlessly learn more about volcanic eruptions. The book certainly has much to offer. However, because it is rather technical and can be a bit heavy-going at times, I believe that it would be better suited for serious science buffs. It could also be used as a supplementary text in university courses on volcanoes and their effects.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Did volcanic eruptions extinguish the dinosaurs, or help humans to evolve?
17 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover
****
"In his explosive book, Clive Oppenheimer brilliantly shows how the history of volcanoes and people is a tangled account. From our earliest ancestors to travelers battling with the effects of ash clouds on airline flights, our evolutionary destiny has been played out in the shadow of volcanoes, often with disastrous results." -- Clive Gamble, University of London
Global disasters make head news, and mega volcanoes resonate more than most. Often, the deadliest eruptions, like tsunamis come out of the blue. The author argues that such past events, when understood, is key to surviving the future. That could hold far greater disasters than the last recent eruption of the Icelandic volcano that shut down Europe's air space. From the Bay of Naples to the River Don, the little-known eruption, which devastated southern Italy happened some 39,000 years ago just as Europeans were developing stone tools. These are stories that don't make the Discovery Channel. Two centuries ago eruption of the Laki volcano, whose poisonous smog killed tens of thousands, as far away as England and France, not just in Iceland only. Death tolls are not the only measure of an eruption's influence on the society. Oppenheimer shows how a forensic approach to volcanoes geology reveals the richness and complexity behind the cause and effect.
Did volcanic eruptions extinguish the dinosaurs, or help humans to evolve, only to exterminate their populations with a super-eruption 73,000 years ago? From just the first chapter, the author's compelling style in the world of volcanoes becomes evident in his chronicles of "Eruptions That Shook The World." He narrates his books mission, "In a way, what I wanted to do with the book was to imagine what the world would be like today if all the volcanoes had been switched off a few million years ago - how different would have been the human trajectory?," Oppenheimer begins by detailing the geoscience and the geological engineering behind volcanoes development and eruption, in a scholarly fashion. He keeps the readers' minds open as he covers topics from eruption styles, to the vastness of the role volcanoes have played in our world. He argues that important lessons for future catastrophe risk management can benefit from analyzing the events that took place, even as far in time, at the dawn of human origins.
Oppenheimer, a volcano geologist, was the consultant on some of these films, tops them all with a book, full of scientific detail, recounting stories of eruptions that really did change the world. Oppenheimer avoids environmental determinism, rather, he thoughtfully makes his case that volcanoes and humankind have been intertwined throughout history. Volcano geologist Clive Oppenheimer explores colorful archaeological, geological, historical, and ancient environmental records to tell the stories behind some of the greatest volcanic events. The eloquent author said during a recent interview that his research is not yet complete, "my main pursuit, is to develop the tools we need to interpret the chemistry of gases released from volcanoes, that we might measure in the clouds released from a crater, tell us about whether or not the volcano it is more likely to erupt today than it was yesterday?" So,"Oppenheimer takes us through deep time and deep into volcanoes, teaching us how they work and demonstrating how powerful eruptions have often jostled the human toehold on survival." Dr Dave Pieri, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
Book Contents: Preface; 1. Fire and brimstone: how volcanoes work; 2. Eruption styles, hazards and ecosystem impacts; 3. Volcanoes and global climate change; 4. Forensic volcanology; 5. Relics, myths and chronicles; 6. Killer plumes; 7. Human origins; 8. The ash-giant/sulphur-dwarf; 9. European volcanism in prehistory; 10. The rise of Teotihuacán; 11. Dark Ages: dark nature?; 12. The Haze famine; 13. The last great subsistence crisis in the western world; 14. Volcanic catastrophe risk; Appendix A. Volcano trumps: notable eruptions of the past 10,000 years; Appendix B. Further reading; Index.
"In his explosive book, Clive Oppenheimer brilliantly shows how the history of volcanoes and people is a tangled account. From our earliest ancestors to travelers battling with the effects of ash clouds on airline flights, our evolutionary destiny has been played out in the shadow of volcanoes, often with disastrous results." -- Clive Gamble, University of London
Global disasters make head news, and mega volcanoes resonate more than most. Often, the deadliest eruptions, like tsunamis come out of the blue. The author argues that such past events, when understood, is key to surviving the future. That could hold far greater disasters than the last recent eruption of the Icelandic volcano that shut down Europe's air space. From the Bay of Naples to the River Don, the little-known eruption, which devastated southern Italy happened some 39,000 years ago just as Europeans were developing stone tools. These are stories that don't make the Discovery Channel. Two centuries ago eruption of the Laki volcano, whose poisonous smog killed tens of thousands, as far away as England and France, not just in Iceland only. Death tolls are not the only measure of an eruption's influence on the society. Oppenheimer shows how a forensic approach to volcanoes geology reveals the richness and complexity behind the cause and effect.
Did volcanic eruptions extinguish the dinosaurs, or help humans to evolve, only to exterminate their populations with a super-eruption 73,000 years ago? From just the first chapter, the author's compelling style in the world of volcanoes becomes evident in his chronicles of "Eruptions That Shook The World." He narrates his books mission, "In a way, what I wanted to do with the book was to imagine what the world would be like today if all the volcanoes had been switched off a few million years ago - how different would have been the human trajectory?," Oppenheimer begins by detailing the geoscience and the geological engineering behind volcanoes development and eruption, in a scholarly fashion. He keeps the readers' minds open as he covers topics from eruption styles, to the vastness of the role volcanoes have played in our world. He argues that important lessons for future catastrophe risk management can benefit from analyzing the events that took place, even as far in time, at the dawn of human origins.
Oppenheimer, a volcano geologist, was the consultant on some of these films, tops them all with a book, full of scientific detail, recounting stories of eruptions that really did change the world. Oppenheimer avoids environmental determinism, rather, he thoughtfully makes his case that volcanoes and humankind have been intertwined throughout history. Volcano geologist Clive Oppenheimer explores colorful archaeological, geological, historical, and ancient environmental records to tell the stories behind some of the greatest volcanic events. The eloquent author said during a recent interview that his research is not yet complete, "my main pursuit, is to develop the tools we need to interpret the chemistry of gases released from volcanoes, that we might measure in the clouds released from a crater, tell us about whether or not the volcano it is more likely to erupt today than it was yesterday?" So,"Oppenheimer takes us through deep time and deep into volcanoes, teaching us how they work and demonstrating how powerful eruptions have often jostled the human toehold on survival." Dr Dave Pieri, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
Book Contents: Preface; 1. Fire and brimstone: how volcanoes work; 2. Eruption styles, hazards and ecosystem impacts; 3. Volcanoes and global climate change; 4. Forensic volcanology; 5. Relics, myths and chronicles; 6. Killer plumes; 7. Human origins; 8. The ash-giant/sulphur-dwarf; 9. European volcanism in prehistory; 10. The rise of Teotihuacán; 11. Dark Ages: dark nature?; 12. The Haze famine; 13. The last great subsistence crisis in the western world; 14. Volcanic catastrophe risk; Appendix A. Volcano trumps: notable eruptions of the past 10,000 years; Appendix B. Further reading; Index.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Eruptions that Shook the World
4 Sep 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful text for those that are oriented to geophysics, geology, or like myself just plain interested and awed by these events and causes. It broadens knowledge and poses many more possibilities in the future of world events.
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