Examines how scientists study volcanic eruptions. With colorful spreads featuring fun facts, sidebars, a disaster preparedness checklist, and a “How It Works” feature, this book provides an exciting look at the science of disaster detection.
Interest Level: Grades 4-7
Reading Level: Grades 3-5
Dewey: 550
Lexile® Measure: 920
F&P Level: S
Library Bound: $31.35 (List) / $21.95 (S/L)
978-1-63517-006-1
Paperback: $9.95
978-1-63517-062-7
Multiuser Hosted eBook: $24.95
978-1-63517-118-1
Booklist, April 1, 2017
Detecting Volcanic Eruptions
Though it might seem like volcanoes erupt without warning, scientists can often predict when they’ll explode, and this entry in the Detecting Disasters series outlines some of the methods volcanologists use to keep people safe from eruptions. A couple of chapters outline basic volcano science, including plate tectonics, volcano types, and how they form, before getting to the instruments and tracking volcanologists use when monitoring active volcanoes, such as spectrometers, which identify gasses emitted by craters, or tiltmeters, which can measure whether a volcano is changing shape. Though the somewhat muddled organization of each chapter might be a challenge for some students, the atypical approach—focusing on tools and monitoring systems—and exciting photos of erupting volcanoes might lure in middle-grade students. A brief glossary, quiz, and volcano-safety checklist round out this volume. — Sarah Hunter
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