Week 9: Earthquakes and Volcanoes

 

  1. This week in lab, we learned about volcanoes and earthquakes. We began by writing our own understandings and questions about each on a white board. We then shared our ideas with our table and worked collaboratively to predict where we think volcanoes and earthquakes occur. Once we drew our predictions, we used the earthquakes and volcano discovery website to locate and learn more about earthquakes and volcanoes that have occurred around the world. We then added 10 of each to our map. I found it interesting that our predictions matched our results: earthquakes and volcanoes are related and often occur on the coastlines. Lastly, we researched composite volcanoes as a group and learned about cinder cones and shield volcanoes from other groups. I learned that composite volcanoes often explode out of their sides, cinder cones are the most thought-of example as they explode out the top, and shield volcanoes slowly flow with sloping sides. I have photos of our completed map and research below. 

  1. What do earthquakes and volcanoes reveal about how Earth’s surface moves and changes over time? 

  2. Discussion Notes: 

10/23 Discussion 

Puzzle Activity: 

  • Great activity to use with future students to explain pangea and how we were all connected. 

  • Our group results: 

Wegener and Plate Tectanoics

  • Alfred Wegener: German climatologist and geologist

  • Proposed a theory called Continental Drift 

    • Used fossil evidence and layers of rock to support his theory

    • Was laughed off after his proposed mechanism failed

  • Was accepted as Theory of Plate Tectonics in 1967 

Hawaii: Hot Spot

  • Islands get smaller, or disappear 

  • Hot spot stays fixed in the ocean, goes through plate, erupts and builds island 

  • Hot spot stays, plate drifts, new island 

  • Desk activity example 

  1. In Chapter 9, I deepened my understanding of volcanoes and earthquakes. I learned that a volcano is a vent that allows magma, rock fragments, ash, and gases to escape to the surface of a planet or moon, and when the materials come to the surface it is an eruption. I found it interesting that volcanoes have created more than 80% of Earth’s surface. I also found it interesting that there are two types of eruptions: explosive and effusive. An explosive eruption is when the magma is fiercely fragmented and rapidly expelled from a volcano, whereas an effusive eruption is when lava steadily flows out a volcano onto the ground. There are also three types of volcanos: composite, cinder cone, and shield volcanos. However, I am still struggling to understand how volcanoes are formed. I understand though that earthquakes happen when tectonic plates push against each other until the built-up pressure suddenly releases making the ground shake. Lastly, I learned that there are two types of waves scientists use to determine where an earthquake has occurred. P-waves can travel through any type of material whereas S-waves can only travel through solid material. Overall, this chapter, especially the visuals and clear explanations, was helpful in strengthening my understanding of volcanoes and earthquakes. 

  2. I have no questions, comments, or concerns at this time.

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