WHEN VOLCANOES BLOW THEIR TOP!
(Mt Pinatubo Blowing its top)
(or what happens when they lose their cool)
- Abstract:
- This lesson focuses on the effects of volcanic eruptions on atmospheric
chemistry. Specifically we will look at the travel of aerosol
clouds from the eruption of Mt Pinatubo and Mt. Nyamuragira and
explore the geography of each region, developing a method of study
for any volcanic eruption.
-
- Outcome:
- Activities will allow learners to relate expelled volcanic gases
, including H20, CO2, SO2 to local and regional changes in the
composition of the atmosphere. The learner will use the internet
to acquire data, and to analyze it graphically. Students will
further analyze recent eruptions and "hypothetical" eruptions
on their own. At the conclusion of this lesson, the student will:
-
- Describe the general effects of volcanic eruptions on the Earth
System.
- Build an Earth System Science concept map, or 'web', and adjust
the web as you gain new understanding is gained.
- Develop data analysis procedures that reflect factors such as
changes in the shape and ocmposition of the plume, and the distance
traveled as revealed by satellite images of volcanic eruptions.
- Calculate map/image scale and analyze pixels to determine total
area of expelled volcanic cloud.
- Determine longitude and latitude coordinates for a given geographical
feature and locate it on a map.
- Determine the scale of a gridded map using a ruler and trigonometry,
or pixels.
- Analyze and graph results from acquired data sets.
- Substantiate the conclusions that you inferred in your analysis
of the data.
-
- Suggested Grade Level & Duration:
- Grades 9-12; Time required 90 minutes.
-
- Materials:
- Internet-capable computer with viewer (JPEGview, Graphic Converter,
NIH Image, etc.), graphing utility of some type (TI series calculator,
spreadsheet program like Microsoft Works or ClarisWorks, graphing
program or, if all else fails, a pencil and some graph paper),
a ruler or other type of measuring device appropriate for the
measurement of scales on a map, and a printer - color would be
best, but any will do.
-
-
- Background - Procedure - Printable - Standards - Credits
Welcome Volcanophiles!
Before beginning, check out the following web pages for a minute
or two to see some cool volcanoes!
