The little book of earthquakes and volcanoes / Rolf Schick.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schick, Rolf.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Volcanoes.

Earthquakes.

Physical Description:

xi, 164 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Copernicus, [2002]

Summary:

In this lay reader's introduction to the most spectacular and devastating of all geological events, Rolf Schick describes how earthquakes and volcanoes are related, and how they are an integral part of Earth's structure. Tracing the latest findings and theories in plate tectonics, he helps readers ask and answer the basic questions: What was it during the formation of Earth that led to these phenomena? Why do they occur in certain areas and not in others? How can we, within reason, protect ourselves from their devastation? And how far have we come, and how far can we go, in predicting when they will strike? For the reader who wants a concise and accessible guide to what makes the ground shake and explode, this is the perfect introduction.

Contents:

Chapter 1 How Solid Is the "Solid" Earth? 1

The Earth's Temperature 1

The Structure of the Earth and the Role of Plate Tectonics 6

Chapter 2 Earthquakes 17

Early Ideas and the Concept of "Tectonic Quakes" 17

The Mechanics of Earthquakes 22

Analyzing Earthquake Sources 27

Earthquakes in the Laboratory 30

The Earthquake Focus as a Point Source 34

The Epicenter, Origin Time, and Source Depth 34

Intensity and Magnitude 37

Forces and Displacements 41

The Spatial Extent of the Earthquake Source 42

Fault Length and Rupture Area 42

Slip, Slip Velocity, and Rupture Velocity 48

Earthquakes That Should Not Exist 50

Deep Earthquakes 50

Intraplate Earthquakes 52

The Seismotectonics of California 55

Three California Earthquakes 59

Earthquake Prediction 62

Earthquake Hazard and Earthquake-Resistant Buildings 70

Tsunamis 75

Chapter 3 Volcanoes 79

Fundamental Questions 80

Melting Processes in the Earth's Mantle 85

Magma Production at Divergent Plate Boundaries 85

Magma Development at Convergent Plate Boundaries 90

Igneous Rocks 94

Description of Igneous Rocks 95

Eruption Mechanisms 98

The Explosive Effects of Volcanoes 106

The Eruption Products of Volcanoes 110

Volcanic Gases 111

Ejecta 114

Effusive Activity 115

Volcanoes in the Cascades of North America 117

Volcanic Eruptions and Climate 121

Volcanoes That Should Not Exist 126

Volcanism in the Solar System 130

Our Moon 131

Mars 132

Venus 133

The Moons of Jupiter 134

Volcanic Hazard and Monitoring 137.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

038795287X

OCLC:

59401343