From the 7,200-degree-Fahrenheit core to the fragmented crust of the earth's surface, Jacques Kornprobst and Christine Laverne explain all aspects of volcanology. Readers can see and understand the workings of subduction zones and seafloor spreading, how different lavas are formed through the partial melting of the earth's various rocks, and why some volcanoes ooze fluid lavas while others explode 30,000-foot clouds of ash and incendiary lava bombs. Written for a general audience, this book gives readers a deeper understanding of some of the most powerful forces in nature.