Cracks in the Crust

Contents

Introduction Cracks in the Crust How Volcanoes Form Fountains and Explosions The Impact of Eruptions How Earthquakes Happen Caught in a Quake After the Quake How Tsunamis Happen When Tsunamis Strike After the Waves Rebuilding Predicting Disasters Glossary Index

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Introduction

Earth provides for all our needs. It gives us air to breathe, food to eat, and fresh water to drink. But our planet can also be violent and destructive. Volcanoes erupt, sending out clouds of ash and rivers of molten lava. Earthquakes shake up the land, destroying buildings and sparking destructive fires. Tsunamis— enormous ocean waves—crash onto the shore, devastating coastal communities. In this book we’ll look at how and where volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis happen, and their powerful impact on people and the environment. And we’ll investigate how, with better scientific understanding of these disasters, we may be able to reduce tragic losses of life in the future.