Volcanoes Of The Earth Moon And Mars

Publisher Description

The Volcanoes of Mars offers a clear, cohesive summary of Mars volcanology. It begins with an introduction to the geology and geography of the red planet and an overview of its volcanic history, and continues to discuss each distinct volcanic province, identifying the common and unique aspects of each region. Incorporating basic volcanological information and constraints on the regional geologic history derived from geologic mapping, the book also examines current constraints on the composition of the volcanic rocks as investigated by both orbiting spacecraft and rovers. In addition, it compares the features of Martian volcanoes to those seen on other volcanic bodies. Concluding with prospects for new knowledge to be gained from future Mars missions, this book brings researchers in volcanology and the study of Mars up to date on the latest findings in the study of volcanoes on Mars, allowing the reader to compare and contrast Martian volcanoes to volcanoes studied on Earth and throughout the Solar System. Presents clearly organized text and figures that will quickly allow the reader to find specific aspects of Martian volcanism Includes definitions of geological and volcanological terms throughout to aid interdisciplinary understanding Summarizes key results for each volcanic region of Mars and provides copious citations to the research literature to facilitate further discovery Synthesizes the most current data from multiple spacecraft missions, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, as well as geochemical data from Martian meteorites Utilizes published geologic mapping results to highlight the detailed knowledge that exists for each region

Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated tour of recently discovered volcanic features of the Solar System.

This book is a comprehensive advancement about the understanding of the volcanology of Mars in all its aspects, from its primary formation to its evolution in time, from the smaller structures to the bigger structures. It discusses the implications of volcanism in the general environmental and geological context of Mars. The book is validating the Southern Giant Impact Hypothesis explaining the formation of Mars in an interdisciplinary approach, including mineralogical, geochemical, volcanological as well as geomorphological information. Implications for future explorations in terms of resources are provided. This book serves as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate level to foster new basic research in the field of planetary volcanology and is a new guide for future missions toward a volcanic world, including new detailed information for the general audience who is always keen to know more about the history of Mars and its large volcanoes. The book also presents an updated situation about the water resources of the planet.

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.

A fascinating look at extraterrestrial volcanoes in our Solar System. The volcano – among the most familiar and perhaps the most terrifying of all geological phenomena. However, Earth isn't the only planet to harbour volcanoes. In fact, the Solar System, and probably the entire Universe, is littered with them. Our own Moon, which is now a dormant piece of rock, had lava flowing across its surface billions of years ago, while Mars can be credited with the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons, which stands 25km high. While Mars's volcanoes are long dead, volcanic activity continues in almost every other corner of the Solar System, in the most unexpected of locations. We tend to think of Earth volcanoes as erupting hot, molten lava and emitting huge, billowing clouds of incandescent ash. However, it isn't necessarily the same across the rest of the Solar System. For a start, some volcanoes aren't even particularly hot. Those on Pluto, for example, erupt an icy slush of substances such as water, methane, nitrogen or ammonia, that freeze to form ice mountains as hard as rock. While others, like the volcanoes on one of Jupiter's moons, Io, erupt the hottest lavas in the Solar System onto a surface covered in a frosty coating of sulphur. Whether they are formed of fire or ice, volcanoes are of huge importance for scientists trying to picture the inner workings of a planet or moon. Volcanoes dredge up materials from the otherwise inaccessible depths and helpfully deliver them to the surface. The way in which they erupt, and the products they generate, can even help scientists ponder bigger questions on the possibility of life elsewhere in the Solar System. Fire and Ice is an exploration of the Solar System's volcanoes, from the highest peaks of Mars to the intensely inhospitable surface of Venus and the red-hot summits of Io, to the coldest, seemingly dormant icy carapaces of Enceladus and Europa, an unusual look at how these cosmic features are made, and whether such active planetary systems might host life.