The Volcanoes of the World database is a catalog of Holocene and Pleistocene volcanoes, and eruptions from the past 12,000 years.

The present volume seems to me to be a particularly im­ portant one for several reasons. Not least among these is the fact that it summarizes the work of two decades by G. S. Gorshkov, one of the world's leading volcanologists. In addition, it is the first general work of this length on the volcanism of what might be called a "narrow" island arc, a relatively simple megastructure as com­ pared with the "wide" arcs such as Japan and Indonesia. Finally, in this volume Gorshkov has summarized and cited extensive evi­ dence for his general ideas on the relation between volcanism and the earth's crust and mantle. A few potentially troublesome items should be noted here. In the translation the Russian terms "suite" and "series" have been retained, though for American readers these might better have been translated as "formation" and "group. " In almost all cases Russian place names have simply been transliterated rather than translated (e. g. , "Yuzhnyi Isthmus" rather than "South Isthmus"); in a few cases the English equivalent has been given in brackets where this is essential to the understanding of the author's com­ ments. The adjectives have retained their Russian case endings in the process (masculine -yi or -ii, feminine -aya or -'ya, neuter -oe) and this may occasionally lead to some slight confusion, for example, when the author calls a given feature Severnyi Volcano at one point and Severnaya Mountain at another.

This impressive scientific resource presents up-to-date information on ten thousand years of volcanic activity on Earth. In the decade and a half since the previous edition was published new studies have refined assessments of the ages of many volcanoes, and several thousand new eruptions have been documented. This edition updates the book's key components: a directory of volcanoes active during the Holocene; a chronology of eruptions over the past ten thousand years; a gazetteer of volcano names, synonyms, and subsidiary features; an extensive list of references; and an introduction placing these data in context. This edition also includes new photographs, data on the most common rock types forming each volcano, information on population densities near volcanoes, and other features, making it the most comprehensive source available on Earth's dynamic volcanism.

Recent activity of the volcano is associated with its multiaction central effusion dome. The N—N—E top of this dome has a crater of the specific shape with a radial fissure 250—270 m long and 15—70 m wide. Small phreatic eruptions were noted in 1951, 1968, 1970, and 1973. The eruption of 1989 started on May 3. Explosions produced ash-gas cloud which rose to a height of 1,5 km on May 8. The very first explosions were followed by formation of a new fissure on the northern flank of the volcano, its length being about 70 m. The eruption was preceded by earthquakes which occurred beneath the volcano and were oriented across the strike of the Kuril Island arc. These earthquakes can be subdivided into two groups with focal depths close to 30 km and 60— 80 km. The layer between the depths from 30 to 55—60 km seems to be aseismic indicating that in the depth range of 30—60 km beneath the volcano a magma chamber can be present. It is suggested that current intensified activity of the volcano has been caused by tectonic movements associated with transverse faulting. A sort-term forecast of the volcano activity is presented.

Работа состоит из двух частей. В первой из них приводятся подробные данные о всех голоценовых вулканах и большинстве плейстоценовых вулканических массивов. Для каждого вулкана приведены данные о форме, строении, петрографии и истории развития. Отдельная глава посвящена петрографическим и петрохимическим особенностям курильских лав. Все вулканологические данные увязаны с особенностями строения земной коры и верхней мантии.
В монографии впервые в мировой вулканологической литературе приводятся такие подробные данные по большому кругу вопросов, на столь обширной территории.
Во второй части рассматриваются петрохимические особенности, а также имеющиеся сведения о строении земной коры и верхней мантии в островных и вулканических дугах, внутри океанических и внутриконтиненталъных вулканах Тихоокеанской области. На большом новом материале подтверждаются выводы о мантийном питании вулканов и о существовании двух главных классов пород — океанического и континентального. Дается схема эволюции вулканизма, как отображение эволюции верхней
мантии.
Книга рассчитана на геологов широкого профиля, а также геофизиков и геохимиков.

"Каталог действующих вулканов Курильских островов" является сводкой наших знаний на 1 января 1957 г. по действующим вулканам Курильских островов.