Reviews - The Volcano Adventure Guide by Rosaly Lopes

Editorial Reviews

"Lopes' hefty, inspiring volume, part coffee-table book and part field guide, brings enthusiastic description together with precise scientific detail for nonscientists who want to see volcanoes for themselves."
San Francisco Chronicle

"I'd recommend The Volcano Adventure Guide as a must-read for anyone contemplating this particular adventure sport."
New Scientist, Douglas Palmer

"This is the book for anyone wondering what it's like to stand at the edge of a bubbling crater. Written by an acclaimed volcano expert, this guide reveals the best ways to visit, explore, and photograph 42 active volcano sites all over the world."
Endless Vacation

"More intrepid travellers might find The Volcano Adventure Guide more exciting. Rosaly Lopes' book gives advice on planning a visit to an active volcano, and has detailed guides to 42 of the world's most spectacular examples. With chapters on the types of eruption as well as safety and survival rules, this is another book that should interest those staying at home as well as amateur and professional volcanologists alike."
Nature

"Volcanologists and naturalist explorers in general have received a tremendous gift with the creation of this one-of-a-kind guide to world-class volcanoes. Spectacular color photos, geologic and geographic maps, and schematic interpretive illustrations provide excellent support for a beautifully written text. Among several recent fine books on world volcanoes, this one is unique and unparalleled. Essential."
CHOICE

"With chapters on the types of eruption as well as safety and survival rules, this is another book that should interest those staying at home as well as amateur and professional volcanologists alike."
Nature

"...Lopes has given us a book that is equal parts geology, history and travel advice - the travelogue confined to volcanoes that are the least dangerous."
Cincinatti Enquirer

"Aimed at nonspecialist readers who wish to explore various volcanos without being foolhardy, it will fascinate amateur enthusiasts and professional volcanologists alike."
Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin

"If you have anything more than a passing interest in learning more about these marvelously explosive natural phenomena, get this book for your library. If you are thinking of planning a volcano trip, RUN and get this book!"
Mineral News, Tony Nikischer

Review by Brian W. Horrocks (San Luis Obispo, CA) for amazon.com
The Volcano Adventure Guide
August 4, 2005

A beautiful book that exceeded my expectations, which were pretty high to begin with. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the Hawaiian volcanos, which I had never fully appreciated or understood until now. Having heard Rosaly Lopes speak on several occasions, her unique style - clear, precise and also very personal - comes through in the text. She is the guide you would want to accompany you to any of the volcanic sites discussed in the book, whether on Earth or Io. This is the next best thing.

VOLCANO ADVENTURE GUIDE ISBN 0521554535

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www.cambridge-news.co.uk
The girl from Ipanema
The Volcano Adventure Guide by Rosaly Lopes
DR ROSALY Lopes has just been recognised in the Guinness Book of Records for discovering more active volcanoes than anyone else in history.
But the NASA scientist is unlikely to be visiting any of them soon, as they're all at least 500 million miles away on one of the moons of Jupiter.
Brazilian Lopes, 47, discovered a total of 71 active volcanoes on Io, one of the largest of Jupiter's 60 known moons, during five years of mapping the region as part of the Galileo Flight Project.
As an astronomer specialising in planetary geology and volcanology, however, Lopes only has one eye on the telescope, spending much of her time in the less starry but no less fascinating study of our own volcanoes.
"I'm an astronomer by first degree and I took some optional courses in geology," explains Lopes, who studied at University College, London and later worked at the Old Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
"I took a course in planetary geology and started doing my PhD.
"My professor was a volcanologist and he said I couldn't understand volcanoes on other planets if I hadn't seen them on Earth.
"So in 1979 he took me to Mount Etna. The first time I was there it erupted - and I was hooked! It was a very beautiful eruption, quite safe.
Then I went back later that year and the volcano was very quiet and suddenly had a very unexpected eruption, where several tourists died.
"In that first year I saw the best and the most beautiful of volcanoes and also the worst, where lives were lost. It taught me that you have to have respect for volcanoes."
Now the scientist, who was born close to Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, has translated her passion for her subject into a new book, The Volcano Adventure Guide, a kind of rough guide to the world's magma giants, aimed at travellers who want to do more than just watch the Discovery Channel."It's a practical tour guide," she says.
"A field guide to 30 volcanoes all around the world. Some are very active - I go through the dangers of various types of eruptions; those which are safe and you can go and see and photograph and those that are so dangerous you've just got to get out of there.
"There are different types of eruptions - some you can get quite close to the lava flows, but if you have something like Mount Etna, which erupted in 1980, you really have to get out of there."
And, unlike the moons of Jupiter, this time Lopes made sure she got up close and personal.
"I've visited all the volcanoes in the book - that was one of my criteria, to only write about volcanoes I've been to," she says.
For Lopes, volcanoes are clearly a thing of terrible beauty, but she seems unconvinced by some of the more dire prophecies of doom.
She is particularly dismissive of claims the supervolcano under Yellowstone Park in the US is overdue for an eruption that could potentially wipe out life on the planet.
"These statistics are somewhat iffy," she insists.
"Volcanoes are not like clockwork. There are a number of volcanoes that you can say are overdue but maybe things have changed. Also, the same volcano can have very small and very large eruptions. It doesn't have to be catastrophic.
"Yellowstone certainly has the potential to disrupt a large area of the US. But even if does erupt, which it shows no sign of doing, it needn't be catastrophic."
For the moment, Lopes has turned her attention to Saturn in her role of Investigation Scientist on NASA's current Cassini mission.
"Cassini is looking at Saturn, its moons and its rings," she explains. "I specialise not only in volcanoes but also in the geology of planets and moons, so my main interest is Titan, the largest Saturn moon. We're studying it with radar to examine the surface in detail.
"On Titan, the volcanoes are not like on Earth - the material is a strange mix of water and ammonia, what we call cryo-volcanism - cold volcanoes. They're not active as far as we know. Plus I'm looking at other features on the surface - river channels, impact craters, interesting features like that."Despite recent tragedies and setbacks with NASA's manned shuttle flights, Lopes is confident the US space programme has a healthy future.
"I'm optimistic," she says.
"At the Jet Propulsion Lab we've had a lot of very successful missions, like the Cassini and Mars missions. We have a very vigorous space programme and we believe it's going to remain that way."
Last week, Lopes flew from her home in Pasadena, California, where she lives with her son Tommy, 11, to attend a Cassini conference in London ("It's a very international mission," she says).
On Wednesday she will give a lecture on Titan and be presented with the prestigious Carl Sagan medal as part of the Division for Planetary Sciences' conference being held at the University.
The award, by the American Astronomical Society, recognises Lopes' efforts over the past 20 years in public outreach and education, particularly among Hispanic groups and young women.
"It's a great honour," beams Lopes.
"You have to be a working scientist who is active in your field and producing research, but also spend part of your time inspiring others, particularly young people, to take an interest in science.
"I do a lot of work with schoolkids and teachers and I also do a lot in Brazil. I'm the only Brazilian scientist working for NASA, so I'm something of a role model!"

The Volcano Adventure Guide is published by Cambridge University Press, priced £30.

The rough guide to volcanoes:

• Like earthquakes, volcanoes form at weak points in the Earth's crust, known as fault lines.
• When two tectonic plates collide, the event can provide the catalyst for volcanic activity.
• As one section slides on top of the other, the one beneath is pushed down into the mantle (the part of the Earth that surrounds the core).
• As water mixes with the mantle, it lowers the mantle's melting point, and the solid mantle melts to form a liquid, known as 'magma'.
• Since liquid rock is less dense than solid rock, magma begins to rise through the Earth's crust. It forces its way up, melting surrounding rock and increasing the amount of magma.
• Magma only stops rising when the pressure from the rock layer above it becomes too great. It gathers below the Earth's surface in a 'magma chamber'.
• When the pressure increases in the chamber, the crust finally gives way and magma spews out on to the earth's surface, forming a volcano. When it reaches the surface, magma becomes known as lava.

Volcano facts and figures:

• It is estimated that one in 10 of the world's population live within "danger range" of volcanoes.
• According to the Smithsonian Institute, there are 1,511 active volcanoes across the globe, and many more dormant ones that could recharge at any moment.
• The world's biggest volcano is Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii. It is 9km high (4km above sea level and 5km below) and last erupted in 1984.
• The biggest eruption ever is thought to have been at Yellowstone, USA, around 2.2 million years ago. The eruption caused 2,500 cubic kilometres of ash to be thrown into the air, with devastating consequences for the planet.
• You could fit Tokyo, the world's biggest city, in the Yellowstone crater.
• New Zealand has more volcanoes than any other country, followed by Iceland.
• When Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, AD 79, it covered the historic city of Pompeii in ash, wiping out the population and preserving a moment in time that is still a source of fascination to historians and tourists today.

The Guardian Unlimited (UK) - Peer Review
The Volcano Adventure Guide by Rosaly Lopes
Tim Radford
Thursday January 13, 2005

You can watch Stromboli in relative safety, but beware of the bombs, or hurtling magma, says Rosaly Lopes. "Even though they don't explode, they can be quite lethal."

Eruptions of Stromboli's neighbour Vulcano are not particularly spectator-worthy, she says, "because the minimum safe distance may be a long way from the volcano." Volcano watching is for those who like it hot and can keep their cool. Rock flows swiftly at 1,200C. The first thing you learn is that there are Strombolian eruptions, Plinian eruptions and Vulcanian eruptions. Plinian and Ultraplinian eruptions were first described by Pliny the Younger when he watched Vesuvius blow its top in AD79. Mt St Helens in Washington State is Plinian. So was Krakatau when it exploded in Indonesia in 1883. Plinian eruptions can chuck cubic kilometres of rock to heights of 28 miles. Their ash can mix with water or ice to make deadly mudflows.

This beautifully illustrated book is a good rough guide to nature's rough stuff. Read the eight rules for visiting volcanos and the five rules for surviving eruptions ("watch out for steam and methane explosions"), then choose your volcano.

Mauna Loa in Hawaii sounds great. It has erupted 39 times in the last 150 years. During the second world war, US Navy aircraft bombed it to divert a lava flow and defuse an eruption. They did so because an erupting volcano would be a beacon for the Japanese (it didn't work).

In 1881 Princess Ruth of Hawaii travelled to Hilo to placate the volcano goddess Pele and halt an eruption of Mauna Loa. She hurled red silk handkerchiefs and a bottle of brandy into the lava flow. Local oral history says the flow stopped that night. Written accounts are more grudging.

Lopes is a Nasa volcanologist who has pinpointed 71 volcanos on Jupiter's moon Io. Her book visits at least 25 volcanos nearer home and supplies practical advice and eye-popping stories about every one.

To buy The Volcano Adventure Guide by Rosaly Lopes (Cambridge, £30) for £27 inc UK p&p call Guardian book service on 0870 836 0875 or go to guardian.co.uk/bookshop

·What did you think of this article? Mail your responses to life@guardian.co.uk and include your name and address.

To see the original article, please go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/dispatch/story/0,12978,1388502,00.html



New Scientist Magazine
Review by Douglas Palmer
The Volcano Adventure Guide by Rosaly Lopes
05 February 2005

PEERING into live volcanoes can be dangerous, as professional volcanologists have discovered to their cost. So I'd recommend The Volcano Adventure Guide as a must-read for anyone contemplating this particular adventure sport.

American volcanologist Rosaly Lopes really knows the subject and has visited many of the volcanoes herself. Full of good anecdotes, Lopes guides the volcano lover through the geology of the sites and gives practical tips on preparing a trip. She covers everything from when to visit to where to stay. There is also a wealth of relevant websites to keep you up to date on the state of your chosen volcano.

From issue 2485 of New Scientist magazine, 05 February 2005, page 52



HERO Magazine - Higher Education & Research Opportunities in the United Kingdom
Review by Charlie Peverett
The Volcano Adventure Guide
04 February 2005

Magnificent magma

THE MORE YOU READ about volcanoes, the more fascinating they become, whether your interest is historical, scientific, or merely touristic.

Volcanoes have marked traumatic moments throughout recorded history, from the destruction of Pompeii in 79AD onwards. Yet as the mythology surrounding them suggests, they are not just forces for destruction, but also creators of opportunity ­ generating new land and fertile soils. More recently, scientific endeavour has suggested that without them we might not be here at all. Some researchers reckon that underwater volcanoes may have been the cradle in which life itself first evolved.

In today’s world of international tourism, the opportunity of visiting the world’s explosive hotspots is now within the reach of the average adventurous soul, and so, quite logically, The Volcano Adventure Guide has arrived too.

This absorbing book is likely to be the starting point for many future expeditions. Author Rosaly Lopes is a volcanologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories, where her expertise in earthly volcanoes is applied to their identification on other planets.

Here she sets out to fuse her scientific and personal experiences to produce a primer cum travel guide. The first section of the book introduces the many facets ­ geographical, historical, geological ­ of volcanic activity around the world, explaining why Icelandic volcanoes look nothing like those of the African Rift Valley, and why some explosions kill tens of thousands while others can be watched safely by children.

The second part is a gazetteer that gives detailed information on 42 volcanoes in the most accessible regions of North America and Europe. They include Hawaii’s tourist-friendly fire-fountains, the steam and sulphur of Yellowstone Park, and Sicily’s towering Mount Etna.

Along the way, the author doles out some counter-intuitive but potentially life-saving tips, including what to do if you find yourself in the target zone for volcanic ‘bombs’ ­ chunks of rock thrown into the air. The experienced volcanologist is likely to face the oncoming missiles and sidestep if necessary, because running away risks you getting walloped on the back of the head.

Lopes points out that many of the dangers involved in visiting volcanoes have little to do with hot magma, and that nature’s other phenomena may account for more deaths. For instance, the treeless landscapes make a visit during a thunderstorm unwise, lest the volcano admirer ends up as a lightning rod. Similarly, local wildlife, arduous climbing or sharp rocks might be responsible for an abrupt end to your adventure.

Happily, Rosaly Lopes is evidently a broad-minded traveller, and combines her professional expertise with an appreciation of local history, mythology, cuisine and other attractions. The writing is warmly unpretentious, and, because she crams it with personal observations and anecdotes, is likely to interest even those with no intention of visiting the places she enthuses about.

Attempting, as it does, to combine scientific insight, practical know-how and breathtaking pictures in one volume, it inevitably risks disappointing on some fronts. For one, this is a weighty, coffee-table-style tome that you would not ideally want in your plane luggage, and would certainly not want to be encumbered with while fleeing a red-hot lava flow.

At the same time, some of the most exciting photographs are maddeningly small ­ in fact, there are virtually no full-page spreads, which is remarkable given the dimensions of the book.

These are, however, minor gripes. What this book does best is to beguile you with great science and stories, and then make sure you are left with no excuse for not going out and taking a look yourself.

Anyone for Etna?

Charlie Peverett

The Volcano Adventure Guide by Rosaly Lopes is published by Cambridge University Press priced £30

Related information

The Volcano Adventure Guide
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/culture___sport/magnificent_magma.cfm?view=print



Review by Dr. Tom Pfeiffer for amazon.com
The Volcano Adventure Guide
25 February 2005

Volcanologist and geophysicist Dr. Rosaly Lopes's new book is a must for everyone interested in volcanoes. The beautiful layout and very cheap (compared to its quality) book starts with a virtual journey through the world's variety of volcanoes, then goes on to a general description of volcanism, its fundamental scientific concepts, that are accurately described in an easy-to-understand language. A detailed chapter is dedicated to giving practical information and lots of useful advise of how to best and actually visit a real volcano: essential preparation, equipment, information sources about the state of a volcano,volcano-related and other general hazards are carefully described, as well as how to minimize them.

The second part of the book,- my favourite,- picks a number of volcanoes that are all reasonably accessible, often active, and very well known to the author: From Hawai'i and Mt. St. Helens in the Cascades, the journey goes to Europe with the volcanoes in Italy and Greece, and elsewhere such as in Costa Rica. These volcanoes are presented with a solid scientific background such as their geologic history and geographical information, as well as carefully researched, rarely otherwise found stories that surround them. Then, pratical information is given of how to actually visit them, including tips for accommodation and travel, detailed maps and itineraries.

In particular, I enjoyed reading Rosaly's language, which is easy to read, accurate and up-to-date. At the same time, it is also warm and personal, sometimes spiced with subtle humor.

The book is definitively bridging the gap between the scientific community (who often do not like to share their priveledge in know-how of acessing a volcano to others) and the interested non-specialist wishing to see a live volcano. As volcanologist and tour organizer to volcanoes myself (www.volcanodiscovery.com), I would strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in volcanoes, both from a scientific interest as well as from the pure pleasure of enjoying their exceptional beauty. Excellent drawings, maps, and brilliant photographs round out the book.

Tom Pfeiffer - Hilo, Hawaii, 25 Feb. 2005



Focus magazine in the UK - Review by Dan McBeal
The Volcano Adventure Guide
4 March 2005

"For those still looking for something more edgy than a couple of weeks of hot sun by a pool, this offers a good starting point, with a comprehensive guide to giant exploding mountains and sources of molten rock all over the planet. Lopes is a volcanologist, so she gets to travel a lot for a living, and occasionally dangles precariously from a long rope above a sea of roaring lava. This would make a good Holywood pitch, except that you're invited to join in and see for yourself." - Dan McBeal



Review by Jill Malter (jillmalter@aol.com)
The ultimate tour guide for visiting volcanoes for amazon.com
The Volcano Adventure Guide
March 23, 2005

Are you a tourist? Do you want to see a volcano? An active volcano? Or maybe a geyser? Then this book is for you! Beautifully illustrated, with excellent maps, it tells all about what you can see and what it all means.

Rosaly Lopes, an award-winning volcanologist, describes the different types of volcanic eruptions, and then gives some advice and rules for visiting volcanoes safely. If you are serious about being in a potentially dangerous area, that means helmets, gas masks, gloves, sturdy boots, and eye protection. She also gives some advice on volcano photography.

Next are field guides to visiting specific volcanoes in Hawaii, the continental USA, Italy, Greece, Iceland, Costa Rica, and the West Indies. There's all kinds of material about each of the major volcanoes and geysers there. In addition, there is some practical advice. Don't carry a purse in Naples! Lopes had two of them stolen less than twelve hours apart there. In Iceland, we see a photo of the Viti ("Hell") crater with a thick layer of ice over part of it, proving that Hell can freeze over.

Lopes has personal accounts of her visits to many of these volcanoes. That includes her first visit to Arenal, which could have been dangerous and is used as an example to show the importance of knowing exactly where one is and just how dangerous the volcano is. And there's all sorts of anecdotal material. For example, Mount Kilimanjaro, a very beautiful African volcano was given as a birthday present from Queen Victoria to her grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

This entire book is simply fascinating. I highly recommend it.


Review by Dr. Florian Schwandner (Arizona State University, USA) for amazon.com
The Volcano Adventure Guide
6 March 2005

"The Volcano Adventure Guide" by Rosaly Lopes inspires, educates and guides the reader to one of the last true remaining adventures: visiting active volcanoes. This book, destined to become a travel writing classic, fills and bridges an important gap between travel books, science books, and adventure guides. In today's globalized world with tourists traveling to every continent and climate zone on the planet, few sights and experiences remain as thrilling as the sight, feel, smell and sound of an active volcano. Rosaly Lopes' book achieves the rare goal of addressing several interested groups simultaneously: it provides the volcanophile of any background with all the information necessary for a safe and hassle-free visit; it introduces the non-scientist and dreamer of volcano adventures to a basic understanding of how volcanoes work; and at the same time serves as a useful reference to the career research scientist planning his or her research campaign.

This book contains a wealth of first-hand information and is very well researched, yet provides information in sufficiently concise form to keep the reader's interest. Dr. Lopes' style of writing is smooth and easily understandable, even to non-native English speakers. This book is also highly recommended for older children and teens, who will love the many amazing and beautiful photographs, as well as the accessible teachings on volcanos.

This quickly became my new favorite book, and I have kept it on my coffee table within easy reach ever since. Its content, depth, style and accuracy is unprecedented in the field of volcano travel writing, and it is also a very visually appealing book with great photography and maps. This book is a must-read - prepare to have your dreams inspired, and to be compelled to go out into the world to explore volcanoes!

VOLCANO ADVENTURE GUIDE ISBN 0521554535
The Volcano Adventure Guide
As Of 2005-07-09

Print
May      Science Magazine: listing
5/11/05      Midwest Book Review: review
5/14/05      The Advocate (Baton Rouge): review
5/23/05      Associated Press: feature in travel round-up, natl
5/28/05      Minneapolis Star-Tribune: AP piece
5/30/05      Detroit Free Press: AP piece
5/22/05      The Advocate (LA): review
5/24/05      Northwest Herald
5/28/05      Anniston Star
5/29/05      Ledger-Enquirer Sunday
5/29/05      Reno Gazette Journal
5/29/05      Sunday Star Gazette
5/29/05      Las Vegas Review: review (circ 229,000)
5/29/05      Register-Guard
5/29/05      Gwinnett Daily Post
5/29/06      Gainsville Sun
5/29/05      Register Citizen
5/29/05      Northwest Florida Daily News
5/29/05      HighPoint Enterprise
5/29/05      West Central Tribune
5/29/05      Express-Times
5/29/05      Lansing State Journal
5/29/05      Daily Breeze
May      Wisconsin Bookwatch Newsletter: review
May      Westways magazine
6/05/05      Chicago Sun Times
6/06/05      San Francisco Chronicle: review
6/06/05      Chicago Sun Times: AP piece
6/9/05      Winston Salem Journal: AP piece
6/12/05      Chicago Tribune: AP piece
6/10/05      Winston Salem Journal: review
June      ASU: review
June      Eos magazine: review
June      The Gazette (CO): feature in travel round-up
TK June      Modesto Bee (CA): feature in travel section

TV/Radio
4/16      EBN radio ìConcourse Aî: natl. interview
4/17      WCKG, Chicago: interview
5/17      WBCB (PA): interview
6/29      WYMT, Florida ìTalking Travelî: interview
TK June      KTRS ìTravel Plannersî (St Louis): interview

Online
6/10/05      Web tv.net: review

Books by Dr. Rosaly Lopes:

The Volcano Adventure Guide - Buy it Today by clicking Here!


Volcanic Worlds: Exploring the Solar System Volcanoes (with Tracy Gregg) - Buy it Today by clicking Here!

Io After Galileo (with John Spencer) - Buy it Today by clicking Here

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Coming soon:

Alien Volcanos: Johns Hopkins Press 2006 (Pre-Order)

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