A 45-mile wide caldera is brewing under one of the world's most famous national parks. What will happen when it finally erupts? Greg Breining explores the shocking answer to this question and others in this book, full of scientific facts but written for any reader. When this erupts, the world will be hit hard, with massive earth tremors as far as Tierra del Feugo and the Arctic ice-caps, tonnes of poison gases, enough ash thrown up to dramatically alter the weather patterns of the world and cause a nuclear winter. Previous volcanic eruptions have claimed a huge death toll - Krakato killed 36, 000; Icke in Iceland killed over 9, 300 people in less than an hour by releasing fluorine gases; Mt Uzen caused 14, 300 deaths in Japan in 1792, and Mt Tambora killed over 92, 000 people in 1812 - but this one has the potential to alter not only one continent but the entire world.

Reviews

Volcanologists have recently discovered some ancient volcano calderas so large they didn't even realize they were volcanoes. One of these, beneath Yellowstone National Park, has a caldera about 45 miles wide. This class of volcano is called a supervolcano, a term coined only recently. The world's largest supervolcano erupted in Colorado 23 million years ago, expelling 1200 cubic miles of magma. None has erupted in 630,000 years, but when one does, warns Breining (Wild Shore: Exploring Lake Superior by Kayak), there will be global consequences. Writing for a popular audience, he gives an overview of the science and classification of supervolcanoes, emphasizing the one beneath Yellowstone, which, he warns, is still active and could erupt at any time. Breining has written several books on fishing and on Minnesota, but he lacks the credentials to write an original work on this subject, so his book is largely derivative, merely summarizing others' research. Still, the topic is fascinating. Recommended for geology collections, academic libraries, and larger public libraries.-Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado & Health Sciences Ctr., Denver Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

PW Web Excusive Online reviews
"Science writer and author Breining ("Return of the Eagle") gives readers a solid introduction to modern volcanology in this look at 'super volcanoes' in general ... and the Yellowstone caldera ... Breining has done a public service by bringing these hazards to light with straight-forward writing and a well-organized text, clearly explaining complicated, violent geological processes without ignoring the awe-inspiring beauty of volcanic landscapes ... Bolstered by clearly laid-out maps, Breining's talent for elucidating complex phenomena makes this one of the best books on volcanoes a general reader can hope for."
"Choice, "March 2008
"Super Volcano" captures the essence, the excitement, and the deep and far-reaching influence of the world's greatest heat anomaly. Breining writes for the layperson with enthusiasm and informality, bringing the subjects to life...A rare read! Highly recommended."