330 Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 60 (1994) 327-331

book, which covers the cultural, economic and sociological aspects of volcanic disasters. It is obviously a labor of love and very well written - - I covered the last third of the book in a single sitting. Case histories show responses and ad- justments to volcanic hazards of different mag- nitudes in a variety of societies. It is an excellent tutorial for the volcanologist who has to tailor his volcanic hazard analysis and prediction to the culture in which he is working. It is worth the price of the book for readers of JVGR to better

understand the sociology of disasters and how to best present the data that they have collected on the World's volcanoes.

If you are planning to teach a class on volcanic hazards and their mitigation, this is your book. Even if you aren't at a university, it should be near at hand on your desk. Chester has made his contribution to the International Decade.

GRANT HEIKEN ( Los Alamos, NM, USA )

Volcanology and Geothermal Energy, by Kenneth Wohletz and Grant Heiken. Lose Alamos Series in Basic and Applied Science No. 12. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 1992, 432 pp., $ 65.00.

This volume will prove to be an important contribution to the fields of volcanology and geothermal exploration. It does an excellent job of integrating these two disciplines which have followed somewhat separate paths in the scien- tific literature but are intimately connected in nature. The goal of the book is to apply volcan- ological concepts to the evaluation and explora- tion of geothermal energy resources. The au- thor's major premise is that detailed analysis of pyroclastic rocks gives information vital to the evaluation of geothermal systems in the parent volcano. The book is successful in forging the links between quantitative volcanology and geo- thermal exploration, but it achieves more than that; it is also a first-rate text on physical volcanology.

The volcanological content of the book is based largely on the authors' original research in both field and modeling aspects, while the geothermal content comes mainly from first-hand experi- ence gained in the authors' exploration work in Middle America and with the Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock program. It begins with a summary of recent practical advances in volcanology, includ- ing explosive eruption mechanisms and water- magma interaction, and then moves on to de- scribe the considerable importance of pyroclastic rocks as a tool to evaluate geothermal systems, including an in-depth treatment of hydrovolcan-

ism. Subsequent chapters deal with surface man- ifestations of geothermal areas, and hydrother- mal systems associated with calderas, silicic lava domes, and basaltic volcanoes. The last chapter is on geothermal systems in maturing composite volcanoes. To illustrate variations within each type of geothermal system, carefully selected case histories and well-documented examples are used. Other cases discussed come from classic descriptions of geothermal systems in many re- gions and settings.

The view of volcanology presented in this book is process-oriented and the text gives a well or- ganized overview of volcano types and associ- ated processes. Most of the content is directed towards a better understanding of geothermal processes around magma bodies and within erupting volcanoes. The book makes two signif- icant contributions; first, in its treatment of eruption dynamics, focusing on quantitative and theoretical analysis of volcanic processes, and second, in its comprehensive treatment of the fundamentals of hydrovolcanism, including fuel- coolant interactions and hydrofracturing.

There are many appealing features of "Vol- canology and Geothermal Energy". One is the extensive Appendices, which occupy about one- quarter of its length and contain much basic ap- plied volcanology. They give a broad overview of field methods in volcanic regions, volcanic rock

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 60 (I 994) 327-331 331

classifications and properties (including perme- ability, porosity, densities, elastic constants, strengths, and thermal properties), thermody- namic properties of water vapor (steam tables), and discussion of the use of cuttings in geother- mal well logs. A two-dimensional heat flow code used for estimating geothermal resources is also given. In the text, terminology and jargon are minimized and are explained in a concise glos- sary. This is a well-produced book, with numer- ous simple but effective line and two-color dia- grams, which work well in almost all cases, and black and white photographs. The text reads smoothly, the contents pages and index are de- tailed, and the content is logical and well organized.

There are shortcomings to this book, they are few, but one or two perhaps deserve mention. The geothermal systems discussed in detail are, nat- urally, those with which the authors are familiar

(associated with calderas and composite volcan- oes in Central America and the Caribbean), so there is less detail and up-to-date information on basaltic systems, particularly those in Iceland. Also the text and bibliography are lacking in dis- cussion of recent theoretical treatments of vol- canic phenomena by other research groups.

Overall, this is a fine book that I hope will re- ceive the attention and circulation it deserves. It is the only one available that integrates recent advances in physical volcanology, particularly in explosive volcanism and pyroclastic deposits, with the needs of geologists interested in under- standing geothermal systems. It will find wide appeal among exploration geologists, academic professionals, and students alike, and could serve as a text for upper courses or workshops in vol- canology or geothermal exploration.

STEPHEN SELF (Honolulu, HI, USA)