Volcanotectonics : Understanding the Structure, Deformation and Dynamics of Volcanoes

This comprehensive introduction to Volcanotectonics describes the physical processes inside volcanoes that control volcanic eruptions, their duration and magnitude. With numerous line drawings, photographs, worked examples, and exercises, the book is suitable for students, researchers and practitioners in Earth science and civil protection.

A volcanic eruption occurs when a magma-filled fracture propagates from its source to the surface. Analysing and understanding the conditions that allow this to happen constitute a major part of the scientific field of volcanotectonics. This new volume introduces this cutting-edge and interdisciplinary topic in volcanological research, which incorporates principles and methods from structural geology, tectonics, volcano-deformation studies, physical volcanology, seismology, and physics. It explains and illustrates the physical processes that operate inside volcanoes and which control the frequencies, locations, durations, and sizes of volcanic eruptions. Featuring a clear theoretical framework and helpful summary descriptions of various volcanic structures and products, as well as many worked examples and exercises, this book is an ideal resource for students, researchers and practitioners seeking an understanding of the processes that give rise to volcanic deformation, earthquakes, and eruptions.