restless earth, 11

Big Picture: How can we monitor and predict volcanic eruptions?

• Know the different ways that volcanic eruptions can be measured.

• Describe different reasons to why it maybe difficult to measure volcanic activity.

• Create own piece of equipment which combats the challenges when measuring volcanoes.

Connect: Write as many Questions as possible in 5 minutes.

Remember there is NO wrong or right Question! Just a question!

• Task: Read the information on page 20 to answer the following questions. You must write in full sentences…

Activate: How can volcanoes be measured?

• 1. What can tilt metres measure? • 2. How much movement can GPS systems track

volcanic activity up to? • 3. What can be used to detect changes in the

volcanoes temperature? • 4. What is the name of the recent piece of

technology that is increasingly used to monitor changes?

• 5. What 4 factors can tell scientists about how the volcano is likely to behave?

• 6. Look at diagram I. Which seismogram do you think is measuring the more violent earthquake caused by the volcano? Why do you think this?

Activate: How can volcanoes be measured?

Why is it difficult to measure volcanoes?

• Task: Look at the photographs. Suggest reasons why you think it could be difficult to measure volcanoes. Write your answers into a mind map.

Volcanoes are very difficult to measure because… • The hot, molten nature of the lava makes it very

dangerous to attempt to measure how much the volcano gives out.

• The size of ash clouds can be too big and move too quickly to measure it at any one time.

• Equipment for measuring volcanoes is very expensive and high tech so not all countries can afford to monitor them.

• Some of the gases the volcano emits are deadly putting the people who measure them at risk.

• Seismographs are very accurate at measuring movement, but they can only measure the earthquakes caused by the volcano after the eruption- not during.

What did you decide?

Demonstrate: Taking these difficulties into account you are going to design your

own piece of volcano monitoring equipment.

What is your design specification to make successful piece of monitoring

equipment?

• 1.

• 2.

• 3.

• 4.

• 5.

Reflect: Realistically do you think your piece of equipment could successfully

measure volcanoes. Answer the following questions to decide.

• 1. Does your piece of equipment meet your 5 point successful design specification?

• 2. What problems could this piece of equipment solve when predicting volcanoes?

• 3. What problems may remain?

• Evaluate how you may overcome the remaining problems that your piece of measuring equipment has when measuring volcanoes.

Homework