This book describes earthquakes and volcanoes from the point of view of scientists who are trying to understand their causes and forecast future activity. Volcanologists risk their lives to scoop samples from an erupting volcano's throat. Geologists scratch at the desert floor, looking for traces of ancient tremors. Seismographers track and interpret the sudden movements of rock deep beneath the Earth's surface. All of them are finding and fitting together pieces of a grand puzzle - the fathomless mystery of Earth's fitful evolution. Organized according to region, this book focuses on volcanic and seismic hazards across the United States, offering lively accounts of past disasters and predictions for the future, including a final chapter on how people can mitigate the damaging effects of earthquakes and volcanoes through individual and collective action.
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