In this Lesson...
In this lesson you will use the Internet to research information on volcanoes and then write a report on your results.
A volcano is a location where magma, or hot melted rock from within a planet, reaches the surface. It may happen violently, in a massive supersonic explosion, or more quietly, as a sticky, slow lava flow.
Volcanoes have been a part of earth's history long before humans. Compare the history of human beings, a few million years in the making, to that of the Earth, over four billion years in the making.
The study of volcanoes, or Volcanology, includes many odd terms. How many of these do you know?
Listed below are two places in the United States that are considered "active" volcanic areas.
On May 18, 1980, after a long period of rest, this quiet mountain in Washington provided detailed observations on the mechanics of highly explosive eruptions.
This field seismometer measures earthquakes associated with subsurface volcanic forces and may help to predict future events. It sits on a plateau known as the "Volcanic Tableland" formed by a major eruption 600,000 years ago.
Mars has its fair share of volcanic landforms, including the largest known volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons
Your mission is to find information and report on a volcano, other than the ones listed above, that has erupted in the last 100 years. Your reports must include:
Then, write a one page description on the major hazards to humans in the vicinity of this volcano. Speculate on what you would do if you were in charge of minimizing the risk to the population.
Use these references to start your research: