Furnace Of Creation, Cradle Of Destruction: A Journey To The Birthplace Of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, And Tsunamis

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Over the past few years, devastating tsunamis off the coast of the Indian Ocean have killed hundreds of thousands of people. Even more alarmingly, scientists predict that these tsunamis, as well as a series of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, may eventually threaten Hawaii, California, and Oregon. The cause of this trinity of natural disasters is plate tectonics. Perhaps the greatest advance made in the field of earth science, the plate-tectonics theory argues that the surface of the Earth is broken into large plates, which change in size and position over time. The edges of these plates rub against each other, causing earthquakes, volca­noes, and tsunamis that continue to inflict such intense destruction to the surface our planet. In Furnace of Creation, Cradle of Destruction, renowned scientist Roy Chester reveals the fascinating history of this discovery and tells the enigmatic story of one of the great mysteries of our time: how the surface of our planet was created and how it has evolved. From the early discoveries of Sir Francis Bacon to the begin­nings of geology and the controversy surrounding the theory of conti­nental drift, this impeccably researched book reveals the evolution of a vital sci­en­ti­fic theory. Lucid and compelling, this book offers a long-awaited explanation of the under­ly­ing forces that shape our world.

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Furnace of Creation, Cradle of Destruction: A Journey to the Birthplace of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis ROY CHESTER AMACOM Furnace of Creation Cradle of Destruction Frontispiece to Thomas Burnet’s The Sacred Theory of the Earth, published in 1681. According to the model proposed by Burnet, the antediluvian earth was a smooth ovoid, or egg, with a uniform texture. When the Flood came, sections of a weakened crust cracked open, exposing the water layer beneath. Some of the cracked crust fell into the interior and the Flood waters burst onto the surface. In this process, mountains were upturned fragments of the early crust left behind after the Deluge, and oceans were holes left where the crust broke up. This was one of the first theories on the formation of the earth’s features that attempted to reconcile the views of the Church and Science. Furnace of Creation Cradle of Destruction A Journey to the Birthplace of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis Roy Chester, Ph.D. American Management Association New York * Atlanta * Brussels * Chicago * Mexico City * San Francisco Shanghai * Tokyo * Toronto * Washington, D.C. Special discounts on bulk quantities of AMACOM books are available to corporations, professional associations, and other organizations. For details, contact Special Sales Department, AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Tel.: 212-903-8316 Fax: 212-903-8083 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.amacombooks.org/go/specialsales To view all AMACOM titles go to: www.amacombooks.org This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Chester, R. (Roy), 1936– Furnace of creation, cradle of destruction : a journey to the birthplace of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis / Roy Chester. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8144-0920-6 ISBN-10: 0-8144-0920-2 1. Plate tectonics. 2. Continental drift. I. Title. QE511.4.C44 2008 551.1⬘36—dc22
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