13 January 2012
The volcanology library: choosing the classics
Posted by Jessica Ball
Well, the interesting weather here in Buffalo (blowing snow, cold, mildly blizzard-like conditions, etc.) has made it an excellent time to get started up on blogging again. So here’s a new idea I’ve been considering:
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll have seen the post I did on essential reading for volcanologists last year. Recently, a fellow grad student and I were having a conversation about “classic” journal articles/papers in volcanology – which were our favorites, and what we consider “classic” (this doesn’t necessarily equal old, but often includes things like review papers, which try to treat a particular topic comprehensively in only a few pages). She suggested that I try something new this year: every few weeks, do a review of one of these “classic” papers – papers that give excellent overviews of a particular topic, or were the first to suggest a now-prevalent idea, or are referenced by just about everyone at one time or another.
I think this is an excellent idea – and it will get me to re-read the papers, as well. But first I need to start by choosing the papers, and the problem I can foresee here is that my choices will be limited by what I’m familiar with. So here’s what I’m going to do: I’ll post a list pulled from my own collection, and leave it open for comments (and additions). What would you include or exclude? Are you more familiar with the impact of a paper then I am, and do you think that I’ve made a good or bad choice? What other papers would you add to the list?
Bear in mind that my choices will be weighted toward the silicic volcanism / lava dome side of things. I want to add to the list, though, so give me your suggestions!
- Wilson, L., and J.W. III. Head, 1981, “Ascent and eruption of basaltic magma on the earth and moon”. J. Geophys. Res. 86:B4: 2971-3001. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4434028395
- Sparks, R S J., 2003, “Forecasting volcanic eruptions”. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 210 (1): 1., http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/97893328
- Giggenbach, W.F., 1996, “Chemical Composition of Volcanic Gases” in Scarpa, Roberto, and Robert I. Tilling, Monitoring and mitigation of volcano hazards. New York: Springer, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34669275
- Eichelberger, John C. 1995. “SILICIC VOLCANISM: Ascent of Viscous Magmas from Crustal Reservoirs”.Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 23: 41, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/87075455
- Newhall, Christopher G., and Stephen Self. 1982. The volcanic explosivity index (VEI): an estimate of explosive magnitude for historical volcanism. Emmitsburg, MD: National Emergency Training Center, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/503352506
- VALENTINE, G, and T GREGG. 2008. “Continental basaltic volcanoes — Processes and problems”. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 177 (4): 857-873, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.01.050
- Barmin, A, O Melnik, and R S J Sparks. 2002. “Periodic behavior in lava dome eruptions”. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 199 (1): 173, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0012-821X(02)00557-5
- Fink, Jonathan H., and Ross W. Griffiths. 1998. “Morphology, eruption rates, and rheology of lava domes: Insights from laboratory models”. Journal of Geophysical Research. 103 (B1): 527-545, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/97JB02838
- Gonnermann, Helge M, and Michael Manga. 2007. “The Fluid Mechanics Inside a Volcano”. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics. 39: 321, http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.fluid.39.050905.110207
- Branney, Michael J, and Peter Kokelaar. 1992. “A reappraisal of ignimbrite emplacement: progressive aggradation and changes from particulate to non-particulate flow during emplacement of high-grade ignimbrite”. Bulletin of Volcanology. 54 (6): 504-520, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4668417546
- FISHER, R. 1979. “Models for pyroclastic surges and pyroclastic flows”. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 6 (3-4): 305-318, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4648800139
- Sparks, R.S.J., S. Self, and G.P.L. Walker. 1973. “Products of Ignimbrite Eruptions”. Geology. 1 (3), http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4642161901
- Woods, A. W. 1988. “The fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of eruption columns”. Bulletin of Volcanology. 50 (3): 169-193, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4668417308
- McNutt, S. R. 2005. “Volcanic Seismology”. ANNUAL REVIEW OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES. 33: 461-492, http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122459
- Wignall, P B. 2001. “Large igneous provinces and mass extinctions”. Earth-Science Reviews. 53 (1): 1, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/95698324
- Woods, A. 1995. “A model of vulcanian explosions”.Nuclear Engineering and Design. 155 (1-2): 345-357, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0029-5493(94)00881-X
So, that’s a start. What would you add – or take away?
ADDITIONS SO FAR:
- Glazner, Allen F., John M. Bartley, Drew S. Coleman, Walt Gray, and Ryan Z. Taylor. 2004. “Are plutons assembled over millions of years by amalgamation from small magma chambers?” GSA Today. 14 (4). (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4642616634, http://www.colorado.edu/geolsci/courses/GEOL5700-PCE/Glazner2004.pdf)
- ANNEN, C., J. D. BLUNDY, and R. S. J. SPARKS. 2006. “The Genesis of Intermediate and Silicic Magmas in Deep Crustal Hot Zones”. Journal of Petrology. 47 (3): 505-539. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egi084
- Dvorak, John J., and Daniel Dzurisin. 1997. “Volcano geodesy: The search for magma reservoirs and the formation of eruptive vents”. Reviews of Geophysics. 35 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/97RG00070
- Hildreth, Wes, and Stephen Moorbath. 1988. “Crustal contributions to arc magmatism in the Andes of Central Chile”. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 98 (4): 455-489. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4667931587
- Pyle, David M. 1989. “The thickness, volume and grainsize of tephra fall deposits”. Bulletin of Volcanology. 51 (1): 1-15. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4668417335
As a tephrochronologist, I would add:
Pyle, D., 1989. The thickness, volume and grainsize of tephra fall deposits. Bulletin of Volcanology 1-15.
Hi Jessica,
I think it is a great idea to construct this list and blog about the papers. Although it seems like (as you say) the papers are not a complete cross section of the field but concentrate on what you know (physical volcanology/eruption processes). For a true cross section of the field the Encyclopedia of Volcanoes (although it is a bit dated in parts). But barring the reading of a 1400+ page book, here are a few papers focusing on the subsurface that I think should be essential reading:
Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., Coleman, D. S., *Gray, W., and *Taylor, R. Z., 2004, Are plutons assembled over millions of years by amalgamation from small magma chambers? GSA Today
The Genesis of Intermediate and Silicic Magmas in Deep Crustal Hot Zones, C. ANNEN, J. D. BLUNDY, and R. S. J. SPARKS
Volcano geodesy: The search for magma reservoirs and the formation of eruptive vents, Dvorak & Dzurisin, 1997
Crustal contributions to arc magmatism in the Andes of Central Chile, Wes Hildreth and Stephen Moorbath, 1988
Which of those publications would be interesting and readable to an amateur?
I’m some kinda amateur volcano geek and interested, but not really keen into reading into hardcore literature.
Hmm…that’s a good question! If you want to get into the science a bit but not too far down the rabbit hole, I’d start looking at anything with “review” in the title. The “Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences” is probably the best journal to start digging through, depending on what you’re interested, but if you don’t have access to it through a library, you can look through the article titles on their website and then search for them through Google Scholar – it will usually bring up a PDF from somewhere!
If you’re more interested in a “popular science” approach, there are a few books that I enjoy (including “Volcano Cowboys”): “Out of the Crater” and “Volcanoes: Crucibles of Change” by R.V. Fisher, and “Melting the Earth” by Haraldur Sigurdsson, for a start. I wouldn’t bother with “Krakatoa”; it glosses over a lot of the science in favor of historical color.
Not a paper but “Volcano Cowboys” is fantastic night stand reading.
Kudos for book and article reviews! A noble effort, Jessica!