Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Facts on File Science Library) [Paperback]

David Ritchie (Author), Alexander E. Gates (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0816045836 | ISBN-13: 978-0816045839 | Publication Date: June 2001

The Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes explains the specific terms and concepts associated with the sciences of catastrophe-seismology and volcanology-and covers the places in the world where these destructive phenomena have occurred. Entries include terms and concepts such as: caldera, stratovolcano, S-waves, liquefaction, harmonic tremors, and much more.

The revised edition contains:
Updated geographic locations and damage estimates for certain areas
Enhanced content on the geologic processes, with clear and up-to-date diagrams to articulate these processes
New definitions of geologic terms
An updated chronology of important earthquakes and eruptions.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

From aa to Yellowstone, if it's got anything at all to do with earthquakes or volcanoes, you're likely to find within the pages of this updated encyclopedia from science journalist David Ritchie and Rutgers geology professor Alexander Gates.

The 1,000-plus alphabetical listings range from historical volcanoes and quakes (both famous and obscure) to entries on specific seismic phenomena (everything from parasitic cones to jökulhlaup) and general geological principles, including a few excellent in-depth discussions on topics like plate tectonics and seismic wave types. The encyclopedia also contains a lengthy bibliography, a list of Internet resources, a chronological listing of notable quakes and eruptions, and a handful of unforgettable eyewitness accounts (after the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79, apparently Pliny the Elder's party went out "having pillows tied upon their heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the storm of stones that fell around them").

With its clear, newspaper-style entries, the Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes will be navigable even to geo-newbies, but its a-to-z organization makes it more useful as a reference than as a stand-alone text. (Then again, given its liberal cross-referencing, you can easily find yourself led to a long, enjoyable read.) --Paul Hughes

From School Library Journal

YA-An excellent resource for students seeking information on the terms, regions, people, and episodes in the fields of seismology and volcanology. Ritchie discusses the most famous and the most unusual volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in an easy-to-read style, and describes the Earth's structure at that point and after each event. Primary-source material on four major disasters appears in an appendix. A chronology of earthquakes and eruptions gives dates, locations, and estimates of deaths or damage. The black-and-white photographs are a bit dark, but the excellent diagrams and maps are extremely clear.
Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816045836
• ISBN-13: 978-0816045839
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,220,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A work in progress, March 10, 2002

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Facts on File Science Library) (Paperback)

This encyclopedia begins with an entry for `aa' (a particular type of lava flow) and ends with a page-worth of data on Yellowstone National Park. In between, all geophysical phenomena associated with earthquakes and volcanoes are covered alphabetically, including anecdotes on many individual eruptions or shakings, e.g. the Kobe earthquake in Japan.

I enjoyed reading the "Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes" but thought it must be a work in progress (I have the new edition) as there were many typos and one astronomical quibble:

* "Io is the hottest place in the solar system outside the sun (p. 105)"---actually I believe that honor belongs to Venus. Io's average surface temperature is 130 K whereas the surface of Venus averages 740 K (hotter even than Mercury).

Another interesting oddity concerning earthquakes, is that the authors tend to favor the Mercalli Scale, which is based on ordinary human observations, rather than the Moment magnitude.

Not all of the black-and-white photographs are dated, and the cover photograph of a volcanic eruption is not identified (although a friend of mine from Oregon swears it is Mt. St. Helens). Ideally, a newer edition of this book will label all of the photographs, and perhaps include a few in color.

All quibbling aside, this is an interesting book that fills a useful niche. It will definitely remain in my reference library.

"Appendix B" which includes "Eyewitness Accounts of Major Eruptions and Quakes" is absolutely fascinating, and it alone is worth the price of the book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction., February 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Hardcover)

In a unique and very handy A-Z format, here in one volume is all the information you are ever likely to need on these most dramatic natural phenomena.
The great earthquakes and famous volcanic eruptions are comprehensively covered, with clear explanations of the geologic concepts and terms, interesting photos and maps, and thumbnail biographies of leading figures in the study of these majestic forces of nature. A particularly interesting feature is the inclusion of each state with an evaluation of its seismic potential. (There are some surprises here). Highly recommended as a very useful single-volume introduction for libraries and interested individuals.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for earthquakes!, May 14, 2011

By 

Electric Bird "amazon. com customer" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Science Encyclopedia) (Paperback)

When I was 12, My classroom needed a project of a volcano. And I went to the library in my school and found this book. I read it, And I was very sucessful in my science class!!! Buy this!! You'll learn about earthquakes/volcanoes. I highly recommend this for earth science classrooms.