Introduction To Planetary Volcanism

This text explores, from a geological perspective, the volcanic processes on the planets and moons of our solar system. Its comprehensive coverage probes the nature of volcanic activity among the planets and their satellites. The work is designed as an introduction to volcanic phenomena in departments of geology, geophysics and earth science, and is intended primarily for beginning students with no previous geological experience.

Planetary Volcanism across the Solar System compares and contrasts the vast array of planetary bodies in the Solar System, including Earth. The wealth of spacecraft data for almost all major solid-surface bodies in the Solar System indicate that volcanism has been a dominant mechanism in shaping the landscapes of these bodies. The book addresses key questions surrounding our understanding of planetary volcanism, such as how to integrate the data into a coherent view of how volcanic activity arises, how this mechanism shapes planets, which volcanic landforms are ubiquitous throughout the Solar System, and which are unique. By placing a singular emphasis on comparing volcanic processes and landforms on all relevant Solar System bodies, and with the explicit objective of providing a systems-level understanding of this widespread phenomenon, users will find an up-to-date, accessible and comprehensive discussion of the major volcanic processes and landforms that shape and drive the evolution of planets, moons and smaller bodies. Includes an introduction placing the book in the context of the larger Comparative Planetology series Compares volcanic processes and landforms on all relevant Solar System bodies, providing a systems-level understanding of this widespread phenomenon Offers a thorough examination of the major volcanic processes and landforms that shape and drive the evolution of planets, moons and smaller bodies Includes information from new mission data and discoveries in recent years Features over 100 color illustrations and charts to more clearly convey concepts Offers additional online content, including figures, animations, video, and other multimedia content such as interviews with contributing authors

Written by active research scientists who study the volcanism of Earth and of other planets, the contributions provide the first general review of volcanic activity throughout the Solar System. Successive chapters describe past and present volcanic activity as it is observed throughout the Solar System. These chapters relate to readers not only our present knowledge of volcanism throughout the Solar System but also how frontline scientists working in this field conduct their research.

Space age lunar and planetary missions offer a new and enlarged perspective on volcanism, extending our experience to features discovered beyond this planet. Starting with Earth, Volcanoes of the Solar System takes the reader on a guided tour of the terrestrial planets and moons and their volcanic features. Lunar lava fields are seen through the eyes of the Apollo astronauts, and we are taken on an imaginary hike up the Martian slopes of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano of the Solar System. This comprehensive and lucid account of volcanoes includes over 150 photographs. The text describes the most recent data on the unique and varied volcanic features of Venus and updates our knowledge on the prodigiously active volcanoes of Io. This book is accessible to the general reader, yet includes enough detail to serve as an introduction for earth sciences students.

Volcanism and tectonism are the dominant endogenic means by which planetary surfaces change. This book aims to encompass the broad range in character of volcanism, tectonism, faulting and associated interactions observed on planetary bodies across the inner solar system - a region that includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars and asteroids. The diversity and breadth of landforms produced by volcanic and tectonic processes is enormous, and varies across the inner solar system bodies. As a result, the selection of prevailing landforms and their underlying formational processes that are described and highlighted in this volume are but a primer to the expansive field of planetary volcanism and tectonism. This Special Publication features 22 research articles about volcanic and tectonic processes manifest across the inner solar system.

Featuring hundreds of images, this textbook explores the geological evolution of planets and moons for undergraduate students in planetary science.