Dangerous Neighbors: Volcanoes and Cities

What are the real risks posed by a volcanic eruption near a city ? what is fact and what is myth? How have volcanic eruptions affected cities in the past, and how can we learn from these events? Why do communities continue to develop in such locations, despite the obvious threat? In this fascinating book, Grant Heiken explores global examples of cities at risk from volcanoes, from Italy, the US, Mexico, Ecuador, The Philippines, Japan and New Zealand, providing historical and contemporary eruption case studies to illustrate volcanic hazards, and cities' efforts to respond to them, both good and poor. He shows that truly successful volcanic hazard mitigation cannot be accomplished without collaboration between experts in geology and natural hazards, public health, medicine, city and infrastructure planning, and civil protection. This is a topical and engaging read for anyone interested in the history and future activity of these dangerous neighbors.

Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction: dangerous neighbors, volcanoes near cities; 1. Too many people and too many volcanoes – Naples, Italy; 2. A full menu of volcanic hazards – Mexico City; 3. 'Like dangerous, yet undeniably beautiful women' – Guagua Pichincha and Cotopaxi volcanoes near Quito, Ecuador; 4. Dangerous neighbors but some bring gifts – Manila megacity, Philippines; 5. 'It's part of the culture. Live with it!' – cities in Japan; 6. Volcanic and proud of it – Auckland, New Zealand; 7. Coffee, software, aircraft, and volcanic mudflows – Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, US; 8. A tale of two cities – Akrotiri (island of Santorini, Greece) and Plymouth (island of Montserrat, Caribbean); 9. The dangerous neighbor is restless – how should a city respond?; Recommendations for further reading; Index.

Grant Heiken is an expert in volcanology and interdisciplinary urban studies, having investigated volcanic regions on four continents and the Moon and co-written or edited 10 books, including Volcanoes: Crucibles of Change (1997). He holds a PhD in geology and has worked for NASA during the Apollo program as a researcher and a geology instructor for astronauts. For many years he worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory on geothermal development, many aspects of volcanology from hazard analysis to scientific drilling, and integrated urban science. He was President of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior from 1995 to 1999, and now works as a freelance writer.