Explosive volcanism: inception, evolution and hazard / National Research Council, Geophysics Study Committee

Abstract

This book on "Explosive Volcanism" is made up of a collection of thirteen chapters or articles that, from different approaches and disciplines, discuss one of the most dangerous volcanic phenomena. The cataclysmic eruptions of the El Chichón volcano, in southern Mexico, during March-April 1982 and those of the Santa Helena volcano, northwestern United States, in May 1980, highlighted the importance of studies on explosive volcanism, not only within the earth science community, but also to governments and the general population. This book is part of the Geophysics Series published by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States and is an example of the growing interest in these studies. The book is not only aimed at specialists in volcanology, but also (and this is one of the intentions of the Series) it tries to be of interest to those in charge of organization and decision-making in situations, phenomena, problems, etc., that involve geophysics.