Week 9: Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Week 9: Earthquakes and Volcanoes 

1. What did you do in the lab today? 

This week in lab, we discussed earthquakes and volcanoes. First, we predicted as a group where we thought earthquakes and volcanoes occur on the world map. After predicting, we use an online website to find major earthquakes and volcanoes. We then wrote on our map where they actually occur. We discussed our findings as a whole group. My group's predictions were similar to where the earthquakes and volcanoes actually happen, because we placed our predictions along coastlines or in countries. Next, we worked in groups to learn about the three different types of volcanoes. We made a poster on the whiteboards and presented it to the class. 

2. What was the big question? 

  • How do volcanoes and earthquakes form?
  • What are volcanoes and earthquakes? 

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion? 

  • Where do most volcanoes fall?
    • Plate lines/coastlines 
  • Wegener activity map:
    • The continents used to actually be connected. 
    • The continents broke apart and slowly moved to their current positions over millions of years. 
    • They can be matched through fossils, rock formations, glaciers, and other geological features. 
  • Hawaii: Hot Spot 
    • Because the plates are moving, new islands are constantly appearing and disappearing. 
    • The plate drifts over the islands. 

4. Read the online textbook chapter 9: 

  • What did you learn?
    • Volcano - a vent that allows magma, rock fragments, ash, and gases to escape to the surface of the planet. 
      • Volcanoes have created more than 80% of the Earth's surface. 
      • Volcanoes are found on every continent and on the sea floor of the oceans. 
      • There are two types of volcanic eruptions: 
        • Explosion - When magma is fiercely and rapidly shot out from a volcano. 
          • Occurs when cooler magma reaches the surface. 
          • Builds up steep-sloping composite volcanoes. 
        • Effusive - When lava steadily flows out of a volcano onto the ground. 
          • Occurs when magma reaches the surface. 
          • Builds up gentle sloping shield volcanoes. 
      • How are volcanoes formed?
        • When magma from deep within the Earth rises to the surface. 
        • Convergent plates - When an oceanic plate and a continental plate push into each other. The oceanic plate slides underneath the continental plate. As the oceanic plate goes deeper, it gets really hot and melts into magma. 
        • Divergent plates - When two plates move away from each other, magma rises to fill the gap. 
        • Hot spots - An extra-hot area deep inside the Earth where magma pushes through the crust. Example: Yellowstone National Park is above a hot spot, it is a supervolcano that hasn't erupted in a long time. 
      • There are three types of volcanoes: 
        • Composite - Composed of lava flows. Mudflow deposits, lava domes, and pyroclastic deposits. They can remain active for long periods and erupt periodically. 
        • Cinder cone - The most common type of volcano in the world. 
        • Shield - Broad and gently sloping 
      • Earthquakes - 
        • Tectonic plates float on the mantle, the layer below the crust. 
        • The plates push and slide past each other, causing intense stress to build. 
        • The rocks will snap as pressure is released in the form of powerful waves. 
        • This causes the ground to shake, aka an earthquake. 
        • There are two types of waves that scientists use to determine where an earthquake has occurred. 
          • P-waves: Can travel through any type of material
          • S-waves: Can only travel through solid material. 
  • What was most helpful? 
    • The most helpful part of the textbook this week was the diagrams and examples, which helped me better understand how these processes occur deep inside Earth. 
  • What do you need more information on?
    • I want to learn more about how scientists predict volcanic eruptions and measure earthquakes. 
    • I would also like to learn more about how earthquakes can cause tsunamis. 
 5. What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have? 
I don't have any questions or comments. 





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