John P. Lockwood

I was born on the East Coast (Connecticut), moved west with my parents and attended high school in the Southern California desert, where my love for the outdoors and fascination with rocks developed. My Geology degrees are from the University of California and Princeton - where I prepared my Ph.D. dissertation about the geology of a remote area of northern Colombia. Post-doctoral research in the Soviet Union forged my fascination with Russia and its people, and has led to work with the volcanoes of Kamchatka. Early years with the U. S. Geological Survey mapping in the Sierra Nevada was followed by an assignment to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and led to my life's work --- to better understand volcanism and to enable humankind to better live with their volcano neighbors. Volcanoes have now been my professional focus for over thirty years, first as a volcanologist with the U. S. Geological Survey, and now as a private consultant. My teachers have been active volcanoes and volcanologist colleagues in Hawaii and throughout the world.

I worked on the book VOLCANOES - Global Perspectives off and on for over 25 years - but finally got serious, and with co-author Rick Hazlett saw the book to birth in 2010. I found that writing a book was the easy part - final editing and mechanical details consumed me for the three years - as I abandoned most other normal interests and responsibilities. NEVER AGAIN! Preparation of a Second Printing (2014) enabled Rick and I to correct many errors that "slipped by" in the First Printing - a much improved book!

I am blessed with a wonderful wife Marti two children, Pam and Glen, and operate a small cattle ranch on the upper slopes of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii where we have a magnificent view of the Earth's largest volcano - Mauna Loa. My websites www.volcanologist.com and www.geohazardsconsultants.com give other insights into my busy life.....