Windows into the Earth

Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earth's interior that traced a 50-mile wide, 500-mile-long path northeastward across Idaho. Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped lift the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, forming unusually largeglaciers to carve the landscape. It also created the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching apart the western U.S. created the mountainous glory of Grand TetonNational Park. These two parks, with their majestic mountains, dazzling geysers, and picturesque hot springs, are windows into the Earth's interior, revealing the violent power of the dynamic processes within. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain, bringing to life the grandeur of these geologic phenomena as they reveal the forces that have shaped--and continue to shape--the greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Over seventy illustrations--including fifty-two infull color--illuminate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, while two final chapters provide driving tours of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the regions wonders. Fascinating andinformative, this book affords us a striking new perspective on Earth's creative forces.

“"Windows represents the most contemporary and complete story of thegeology and geophysics of Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. It will set a benchmarkand should have a shelf life of geological proportions."--Jackson HoleNewsR”

"Geologist Smith and science writer Siegel team up to tell the exciting story of how Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks came to be."--Bob Decker, former director of the U.S. Geological Surveys Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Professor Emeritus, Dartmouth College, and Barbara Decker, science writer"Good coverage of volcanism, tectonism, glaciation. Beautiful photos. Great field trip guides and references. Up to date."--Robert J. Carson, Whitman College"The photographs and diagrams are spectacular.Two interesting driving tours that cover both parks introduce readers to some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and are entertaining and informative. Windows Into The Earth bridges the gap between the highly technical analyses--of the Yellowstone hotspot, volcanism and active fault dynamics--and publications written for general audiences."--American Scientist"Windows represents the most contemporary and complete story of the geology and geophysics of Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. It will set a benchmark and should have a shelf life of geological proportions."--Jackson Hole NewsR"The book has more than 70 illustrations, including 52 in color. The final two chapters outline a driving tour of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the region's wonders. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain."--Great Falls Tribune"The spectacular geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone are the world's best. They are in part the remains of a gigantic volcanic explosion 630,000 years ago that was a thousand times larger than the 1980 eruptions of Mount St. Helens. They also portend future volcanic action in this beautiful wonderland. Geologist Smith and science writer Siegel team up to tell the exciting story of how Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks came to be."--Bob Decker,former director of the U.S. Geological Surveys Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Professor Emeritus, Dartmouth College, and Barbara Decker, science writer

Robert B. Smith is a professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah and a fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America. He has spent his career studying the Yellowstone-Teton region. Lee J. Siegel has written about science since 1976, most recently as science editor of The Salt Lake Tribune. He contributed to the Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the 1980 Mount St. Helenseruption by The Daily News of Longview, Washington, and in 1996, he won the Utah Seismic Safety Commissions first annual Outstanding Contribution to Earthquake Safety in Utah Award.

Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earth's interior that traced a 50-mile wide, 500-mile-long path northeastward across Idaho. Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped lift the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, forming unusually large glaciers to carve the landscape. It also created the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching apart the western U.S. created the mountainous glory of Grand Teton National Park. These two parks, with their majestic mountains, dazzling geysers, and picturesque hot springs, are windows into the Earth's interior, revealing the violent power of the dynamic processes within. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain, bringing to life the grandeur of these geologic phenomena as they reveal the forces that have shaped--and continue to shape--the greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Over seventy illustrations--including fifty-two in full color--illuminate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, while two final chapters provide driving tours of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the regions wonders. Fascinating and informative, this book affords us a striking new perspective on Earth's creative forces.

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