|
This beautiful compendium of work on hotspot volcanism documents the development, current state-of-play, and future prospects of all branches of the subject. It contains extensive and indispensable reference resources in the form of hotspot, tectonic, volcano and tomographic maps and cross sections of Earth. Some chapters outline the history of the plume hypothesis and other theories for the genesis of hotspots, and several provide tutorials that will be valuable to students and cross-disciplinary scientists. Other chapters present innovative models and theories for individual localities, volcano genesis processes, and related global observations. Many of these include subject reviews, making them doubly valuable to specialists and non-specialists alike. The book is fully interdisciplinary, encompassing geophysics, geochemistry, noble gases, heat, temperature, tectonics, petrology, mantle dynamics, impacts, and syntheses reconciling several branches of earth science. Included are chapters that advocate the plume model and ones that advocate alternative models. The book will enjoy a long lifetime of usefulness and functions as a reference work for students, scholars, and informed lay people. It is equally valuable for supporting advanced undergraduate or post-graduate courses and research scientists working at the forefront of hotspot science. It is an essential addition to the bookshelves of every science library, earth science teacher, and research scientist who aspires to understand the frontiers of this exciting subject. With over 150 color plates, it makes a beautiful addition to the library of anyone fascinated by volcanoes—one of nature’s most exciting and extraordinary phenomena. |
