Volcanoes, Earthquakes And Tsunamis

by David A. Rothery

Volcanoes, earthquakes & tsunamis pose the most frightening geological events with which we have to contend. This text focuses on plate tectonics before delving into the intricacies of each one of these hazards so readers have an understanding of what causes them, how they relate to each other & how they can be predicted.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Geology, Earth Sciences, Amazon, Reference

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

David Rothery is Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the School of Physical Sciences within the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics at the Open University.

Reviews

[Janik Zikovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very readable overview of volcanoes and earthquakes, written by a vulcanologist. I was worried this would be too dumbed-down but the author does not shy away from using proper technical terms, after defining them accurately. But it remains an engaging read, with real-world examples that put everything in context.

[Kelly Loo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great and informative book, very content-heavy. Learnt a lot but at the end of the day, non-fiction isn't for me unless you give me a year to read it. Would say that this is not the book for you if you're looking for a crash course, but more of expanding on elementary knowledge on volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this quite quickly because I wanted to learn more about the science of natural disasters. I was fascinated by the circumstances of how each other of these occur and how sometimes one or more these occur because of the other.

Quite sobering the aftermath from these. I think it’s important to understand each of these and try to have an emergency plan/kit for each. Hope I never have to live through one of these.

[Rhys Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically the textbook I apparently needed to accompany the alarming number of natural-disaster books I've been reading.

Really good introduction to the subject, though. Rothery explains the geology without making it completely incomprehensible, and I particularly liked the sections on how volcanoes and earthquakes actually work rather than just reading about the disasters they cause.

The links between volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis are interesting too. You get a much better sense of them as parts of the same larger geological system rather than three completely separate terrifying things.

It's definitely more textbook than narrative nonfiction, though. There is a *lot* of information here, and I wouldn't exactly call it a page-turner.

Still, very useful and genuinely interesting. Probably one I'll keep coming back to when I've forgotten what some terrifying geological term means.

[martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written for academic purposes (which I needed to read it for, this was not a typical fun read) and it really felt like that. The diagrams and case studies were excessively useful, but because the book contained so much information, reading it felt overwhelming at times. I appreciated how the three separate (yet subtly linked) phenomena were organised and explained. The visual aids were clear and methodical, and a number of summaries were provided too which cleared up matters alongside enabling me to retain information less dense. Overall, it was a useful read, however I do think that I will have to revisit it over time in order to make full use of all that it contains.

[Rodney Harvill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be exceedingly well written, covering both the underlying geological theory associated with volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis and practical considerations pertaining to coping with the risks inherent to living on a geologically active planet. Such coping mechanisms include early detection and prediction, as well as measures to mitigate the effects of a future or ongoing natural disaster. In particular, I remember his description of how the residents of a town in Iceland managed to redirect a lava flow by spraying seawater on its edge, forming a levee of volcanic rock. A simple solution that was both elegant and effective. An engineer who is accustomed to turning theory into practice, I had a really hard time putting this book down.

[Bill Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely enjoyable and educational book. Really lays out the dangers posed by these natural events / threats. Written by a true expert in such a way that anyone could understand it, without feeling patronised or spoken down to - a far from easy accomplishment! Brilliant!

[Don Manella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most comprehensive book on the market regarding earthquakes, volcano’s and tsunamis. Goes in-depth into every aspect of the big three. I’m sure this is one book that’s in the hands of every scientist out there today. A must have.

[Aliff Amierul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for beginners in geology. My reference book. Easy to understand

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to buy this book to learn more on the subject, and wasn't disappointed. It provides a comprehensive explanation of the processes going on in the ground below our feet. It's a complicated subject, so this isn't a book to be read quickly.
Having read the book I was inspired to sign up for the Open University course for which it's a text book.

[Julian Kirkman-Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This formed part of my OU science course. I enjoyed the book and subject so much I made a point of doing two things:-
Visiting Yellowstone national park and standing above the supervolcano that spells tilt for the Northern hemisphere, and choosing to write about the earthquake potential in Istanbul for my honours thesis. Thank you David, for the inspiration.

[John Herceg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly informative text. Especially gifted knowledge of volcanoes and their role in human existence as well as their potential for destruction. Simultaneously entertaining.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read, it was part of my open university course