The encyclopedia of volcanoes / Энциклопедия вулканов

Volcanoes are compelling evidence that the Earth is a dynamic planet characterized by endless change and renewal. Study of volcanoes is thus fundamental to understanding the evolution of the Earth and the surface environments. On an ever more crowded planet the exposure to natural hazards is increasing. An estimated 800 million people live within 100 km of an active volcano in 86 countries worldwide. Volcanoes provide favorable environments for life and bring many benefits to society: eruptions fertilize soils; elevated topography provides good sites for infrastructure (e.g., telecommunications on elevated ground); water resources are commonly plentiful; volcano tourism can be lucrative; and volcanoes can acquire spiritual, aesthetic, or religious significance. Some volcanoes are also associated with geothermal resources, making them a target for exploration and a potential energy resource.
Over the last few decades there has been a dramatic increase in research on active volcanoes and their associated magmatic systems. There are emergent technologies leading to new kinds of information, while advances in computer power lead to much more data and diverse formsof data. The proliferation of scientific information poses an increasing problem on how to access and absorb this information and the latest scientific understanding. There is a critical need to provide mechanisms to enable rapid access to the latest volcano science. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes provides a solution to this issue by providing articles to cover the complete range of topics on volcanoes. The first edition of the Encyclopedia in 2000 was a seminal publication in volcanology, which became very widely used. It is thus a great pleasure to welcome the updated second addition of the Encyclopedia.
The new edition contains 78 articles covering a great diversity of topics. The authors are of the highest quality and represent many of the leading volcanologists around the world. Some subjects have been updated while there are articles on new topics that reflect emergent issues and new technologies. The Encyclopedia provides an authoritative gateway to knowledge. I congratulate the editors and authors on a great achievement in disseminating the spectacular findings of volcanology in the twenty-first century.