Project I 

 






Physical Geology







Semester Project - Part 1 : Distribution of Active Volcanoes
 





Volcano World was one of the first geoscience resources on the Internet.  For this exercise you will need a map showing plate boundaries which is a small map or this one which is larger [if you print from the browser, turn the image on its side and reduce the size to about 75% for the best effect),  or you can copy the larger figure on the inside cover of the text.  




Look at the Update on Current Volcanic Activity.  Prepare a table in which you list the 10 most recent volcanic events prior to November 1, 2000.  Your final report should include eruptions that occur during the semester (or thereabouts).


Exploding Mountains is a similar sort of exercise that may give you some good ideas.











LocationCompositionNature of the EruptionRemarks





Under the Nature of the Eruption column tell whether this was an explosive eruption or a gentle flow.  Under the Remarks column tell whether the volcano is located at a plate boundary or within a plate.  If the volcano occurs at a plate boundary list the kind of boundary.

Locate each of these events with a red circle on your reference map.  

Questions


    

  1. What is a hot spot?  Mark the location of a proposed hot spot with a purple circle on your reference map.
    

  2. Describe the plate tectonic setting of the Cascade Mountains.
    

  3. Describe the orientation of the volcanoes of the Cascades.  How far (on average) are the Cascades from the subduction zone(s)?  Speculate as to what controls the distance between a subduction zone and the volcanoes?
    

  4. At the Volcano World site is a list of volcanic activity  from about 1995 to the present.  About how many eruptions have been recorded each month since 1995?
    

  5. What is the range of the numbers of eruptions : ______ (lowest) to ______ (highest).  Predict how many eruptions you think will occur between September 1, and December 1, 2000.
    

  6. add these eruptions to the table and locate them in blue
    


Field trips are the geologists counterpart of a case history.  Take some time and Virtually Climb Stromboli, if you have not already done so!  


Locate it on your map in orange.



The Table and Map that you prepare will be handed in with your written report as Appendix I.