Volcanoes of Europe [Paperback]

Alwyn Scarth (Author), Jean-Claude Tanguy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2001

Volcanoes have contributed in large part to the formation of the Earth's crust and atmosphere--and are intimately tied to the history of humanity. The most ancient civilizations of Europe have preserved the imprint of these spectacular and often terrifying phenomena. The explosion of Santorini, some 3600 years ago in the Aegean, undoubtedly inspired the Greek fables of Atlantis, the eruptons of Etna (Sicily) are the origin of the image of the forges of Cyclops and other myths, and the concept of Hades was linked to numerous volcanoes in the Mediterranean. Italy was the birthplace of the science of volcanology, and the Atlantic (Iceland and the Azores) volcanoes have given unrivalled opportunity for the study of volcanic islands recently formed. This book, both reference and guide, presents the causes, initiation, and growth of these volcanoes against a background of their environmental aspects and contemporary activity. Special attention is given to the impact on the people who live on or around them. The volcanoes of and volcanic activity in the Mediterranean basin, the Atlantic, and France and Germany are described in clear prose with a minimum of technical jargon. A glossary of volcanic terms used in the local languages is included, and the book is well illustrated with black and white photographs and maps, and an 8-page color insert.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For students, amateurs, and professionals in the earth sciences, Scarth, an academic geologist turned writer, and Tanguy (U. of Paris 6) outline the causes, initiation, and growth of the continent's volcanoes to provide background to their recent and contemporary activity. They begin with the Mediterranean region, travel to the Atlantic, and finish with recent volcanoes in France and Germany. They include eight color plates, but primarily the illustrations are informative rather than spectacular."--SciTech Book News

About the Author

Alwyn Scarth, Professor of Geography, University of Dundee. Jean-Claude Tanguy, Professor of Geology, Universite de Paris.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195217543
• ISBN-13: 978-0195217544
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,079,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent tour of varied volcanoes and landscapes, August 2, 2002

By 

Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Volcanoes of Europe (Paperback)

This is an excellent review of nearly all European volcanoes. The non-Ring of Fire volcanic provinces have received very little attention on a regional basis. This book fills a large gap in non-professorial texts/trade books on volcanoes and volcanology.

Volcanoes of Europe covers the volcanic provinces of Italy, Greece, the Canary Islands, the Azores, Iceland and Jan Mayen, and the dormant regions of France and Germany, in turn. Most photos are black and white, but an excellent section of color prints adorns the middle of the text. The photos are carefully chosen to demonstrate phenomena mentioned in the chapter.

The writing is ably done, and well-organized. The history of each volcano is meticulously researched, and accompanied by an excellent bibliography. As my lists will show, I have been a volcano freak for some years and I probably have 80+ books on the subject, some technical, many not. This is one of the best.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in volcanoes, regional geographers and geologists, and others who enjoy the study of our Earth and its processes. This book is a real keeper.