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The big enquiry question; Are volcanoes friends or foes of human beings?

Your task: The overall aim of this enquiry is to produce an IT based report that looks at the different types of volcanoes and how they influence the lives of people who live near them. This enquiry has been split up into four different sections.

Section 1 looks at the different types, structure and causes of volcanoes; 
Section 2 investigates the long-term impacts of volcanoes in the Philippines; 
Section 3 looks at the ways that volcanoes can be predicted; and 
Section 4 looks at why people continue to live in areas where volcanoes are found.

Remember – in order to score a high assessment grade on this project:

  • All sections must be well researched
  • Answers should be put into your own words and well explained.
  • You will think carefully about how your answers are structured, aiming to consider a range of causes and consequences.

It is up to you to decide what text, pictures, graphs are relevant – choose with care!

Section 1 - Types, Structure and Causes of Volcanoes

Main question within this section: 
What causes volcanoes to erupt, and why are not all volcanoes alike?

In your write-up, aim to answer the following questions

1. What is actually meant by the term 'volcano'? 
2. What are 'Active', 'Dormant' and 'Extinct' volcanoes and can you find examples of where they are found? 
3. Where are volcanoes found? What is meant by the term 'Pacific Ring of Fire'? Is this an accurate description? 
4. Explain how volcanic eruptions are caused. 
5. Produce an 'annotated' diagram that shows the structure of a typical volcano. Include the terms Magma Chamber, Crater and Vent. 
6. Describe and Explain why volcanoes may vary in shape and in nature (e.g. what is actually emitted in the eruption)

http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/  http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/volcano_types/index.html  http://www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/volcanoes1.html  http://www2.edc.org/sciencequest/2001/SQ0110360/valcanoparts2.html 

Section 2 - The Long-term impact of the eruption at Mt. Pinatubo

Main question in this section: 
Why is the impact of the 1991 eruption still being felt today?

The scene to the left looks like a picturesque snow covered village. In reality, this is a disaster zone with metres of ash covering houses, buildings and roads.

A satellite view shows just how much of the mountain was actually blown away by the eruption.

Eleven years after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo (Philippines), the people of this island are still feeling the impacts. Their lives, economy and environment are still being threatened by the eruption that happened in 1991. You have been employed as a journalist for the Geographical journal. Your brief is to produce a newspaper article that highlights the impact of this disaster in the long term for this region. The key questions that must be answered is how is this region still being affected, and why is this area finding it more difficult than most to get back onto it's feet?

Potential Structure for the article

NEWSPAPER NAME
Date Price

Headline
Column 1

Introduction (details of the initial eruption; immediate impacts)

Social long-term impact

Environmental long-term impact

 

 Picture
Column 2

Economic long-term impact

Editorial (why this area has found it difficult to get life back to normal)

 

You will find a number of sources useful for this article. For the very highest marks consider the characteristics of the Philippines. How does their level of development play a part?

http://www.globaleye.org.uk/secondary_autumn2001/eyeon/people.html http://eos.higp.hawaii.edu/ppages/pinatubo/1.intro/index.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/pinatubo/  http://tlc.ousd.k12.ca.us/montera/students/Barron/Per1/belay.padilla/pinatubo.htm 

Section 3 - Predicting Volcanoes

Main Question of this section: To what extent can volcanoes be successfully predicted?

The picture to the left shows a global positioning system. The instrument measures activity in the ground and sends the data via satellites to large databases where the information can be analysed.

Predicting volcanoes is a very important business. There are a number of different techniques. These range from old-fashioned predictions (e.g. observing nearby animal behaviour, through to modern technology like that described above).

In this section you should aim to outline the different ways that volcanoes can be predicted. How accurate are these techniques? Why is it generally easier to predict volcanic eruptions than earthquakes?

http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/prediction.php  http://library.thinkquest.org/11944/volcano.htm 

Section 4 - Living near volcanoes

Main question for this section: Why do people continue to live near to volcanoes?

Despite the dangers some people still continue to live near volcanoes. Are they daft? If the answer is 'Yes', there must be a lot of them. Currently, 500 million people live near volcanoes!

In your report aim to consider the reasons why so many people live near volcanoes. It is stupidity or practicality? Are the reasons different in MEDC's compared to LEDC's?