Name: _______________________________

Volcano Lab Activity

Types of volcanoes, tectonic settings, and hazards

Lab Outline
 Part 1: Review
 Part 2: Google Earth tour
 Excel sheet (for Part 2, question 8)

Additional Resources
 “How to Navigate GE Tours” guide
 Data tables

Deliverables
 Word document
A satellite image of New Zealand's White Island on Dec. 11, 2019, three days  Excel sheet (for Part 2, question 8)
after the volcano erupted. (Image credit: Satellite image ©2019 Maxar
Technologies)

Throughout history, volcanoes have displayed enormous destructive fury and power, and they
continue to do so in present times. Eruptions can change weather patterns, disrupt climate, cause
widespread human suffering, and in the past, mass extinctions. Volcanoes represent complex geological
systems capable of generating many dangerous phenomena. Today, about 500 million people live in
regions of the world that directly subject them to volcanic risk (Auker et al., 2013). Even modest eruptions,
such as the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland, have made multibillion-dollar global impacts through
disruption of air traffic. The 2014 steam explosion at Mount Ontake, Japan killed 57 people without any
magma reaching the surface. Although known to spew clouds of hot ash, streams of molten lava, and
even generate tornadoes of fire, volcanoes can also be constructive. Volcanic ash, dust, and rocks
provide important nutrients for soil, making them fertile. Volcanoes can also be harnessed for its ability to
produce renewable power from natural thermal energy.

It is clear that volcanic risk assessment and management are important scientific, economic, and
political concerns, especially in densely populated areas. To evaluate and manage volcanic risks in our
lives, we first must learn and understand the basic characteristics of volcanoes. In this lab, you will be
describing and identifying common volcano types, relating volcano styles with tectonic settings,
geographic location, and potential volcanic hazards.

Some common misconceptions about By the end of this lab, you will have achieved these
volcanoes: learning goals:
 Discuss the major types of volcanic landforms,
 All volcanoes have tall peaks and
how they are formed and modified, and typical
large craters at the summit.
physical characteristics.
 Volcanoes only occur in warm areas.
 Be able to explain what determines the shape,
 Volcanoes are randomly located
size, slope, and level of explosivity of a
across the earth’s surface.
volcano.
 There is no pattern to volcano
 Understand the type of tectonic boundaries
formation.
and geographic settings that produce certain
 Volcanoes are only found on land.
types of volcanoes.
 Volcanoes only erupt straight up
 List types of geologic hazards associated with
through the top vent.
different types of volcanic eruptions.
 All volcanoes erupt violently.
 Name at least three famous volcanoes.
Part 1: Review

It is highly recommended that you review the Google Earth tutorial video and written guide under
Additional Resources on iCollege before starting the lab assignment.

Begin the Volcanos Lab Google Earth tour! Make sure you are in mode and remain so for
the entire tour. Answer the following questions. Short videos available in the right-hand information box
on Slide 2 and will help you to answer this first part. You will not be using the map until Part 2.

1. Watch Video 1 and explain in your own words why volcanism occurs in subduction zones.

2. Watch Video 1 and explain in your own words the mechanism that creates volcanoes at “hot
spots” and rifts.

3. Watch Video 2 and determine why some volcanoes have a shield/dome shape while some have
a cone shape.

4. Watch Video 3 and state the reasons for why some volcanoes experience effusive (gentle)
eruptions and why some experience explosive eruptions?

5. Watch Video 4 and determine the most dangerous hazards associated with volcanoes. Provide a
brief explanation.

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Part 2: Google Earth tour

Volcano shape is strongly controlled by eruptive style, which in turn is controlled by magma composition
and tectonic setting. This part of the lab is intended to give you the opportunity to virtually examine
volcanoes from around the globe through 3-D satellite imagery, and to interpret the tectonic settings in
which they form.
Use the Google Earth tour link provided below to answer the following questions. It is highly
recommended that you review the Google Earth tutorial video and written guide under Additional
Resources on iCollege before starting the lab assignment. For this lab, all locations have been
programmed in the slides for you. You will not need to click on any place markers or use the “Search”
function. Just move through the slides using the slide arrow buttons, and you will be flown to the volcano
location. Use your mouse and keyboard to move/look around. Your map view is set to 3D, and you will
not need to toggle to 2D at any point. Remain in “Present” mode unless noted otherwise.

Use the Volcanos Lab Google Earth tour! CLICK .

1. Navigate to Slide 4: Chile, in South America. Look for the green placemark and zoom to Chile’s
capital, Santiago, at an eye altitude of ~1000 km. You can find altitude values at the bottom right corner of

the Status Bar. Make sure that north (the red tip) is pointing towards the top.

Stay on this slide and tilt the viewing angle so that you can look northward along the South American
coast. Briefly describe the major tectonic features and landforms that you see.

Ans)
The major tectonic features and landforms visible in the image are the Andes Mountains, the Atacama
Desert, the Peru-Chile Trench, and the Central Valley of Chile. The Volcanic Gap is a region in the Andes
Mountains where there are few or no volcanoes. It is in northern Chile, between the Atacama Desert and
the Central Valley. The Volcanic Gap is thought to be caused by a change in the angle of the subducting
Nazca Plate. The South American volcanic chain is a series of volcanoes that runs along the western
edge of South America. The volcanoes in the chain are formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate
under the South American Plate. The image specifically mentions Descabezado Grande, which is a
volcano located in the Andes Mountains in Chile.

2. Now, you will be researching three types of famous volcanoes (out of the six volcanoes provided below)
using this Volcanoes GE tour and online resources. You must select one volcano from each column
below. Once you have picked your choice of volcanoes, find the appropriate question section for your
selected volcanoes in the next few pages, and answer all questions.

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Volcano Type “A” Volcano Type “B” Volcano Type “C”

Aniakchak, Alaska Descabezado Grande, Chile Alayta, Ethiopia

Mount Saint Helens, Washington Mount Fuji, Japan Mauna Loa, Hawaii

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Descabezado Grande of central Chile
Navigate to Slide 5

a) Use your cursor, and the ruler tool when needed, to find the size and shape of the volcano by
filling in the spaces, below.

You will need to exit out of “Present” mode to use the ruler (press ESC or click the back button at the
upper left corner). To find elevation values, you can point your cursor on specific parts of the volcano
in the map and read the elevation values (seen in bottom right corner of the status bar, it is the unit
value to the RIGHT of the coordinates. If it does not pop up, you need to zoom in a little more); you
can also use the provided elevation profile image (in the photo gallery) to obtain some of these
values. Note that these values are approximate and should be generally close to actual values
reported by online resources. Record YOUR approximations:

 Maximum height (elevation) of the volcano above sea level: _______3920_________ meters
 Base elevation of the volcano: ______2480__________ meters
 Relief (maximum elevation – base elevation) = _________1440_______ meters total height
 Base width: _______11700_________ meters.
 Average slope of volcano ((relief ÷ ½width)*100%): __27.62_____ %

b) Describe the overall shape of Descabezado.

Flat topped but very high

Then, fill out this table based on your observations from Google Earth and from online research. You may
refer to the tables under Additional Resources for some help.

Magma
Rock Type Flow Rate Silica Content Viscosity Explosiveness
Composition
Andesite Rhyodactic Medium Medium High Non explosive

c) What type of volcano is this, based on size, shape, and composition?

Felsic

d) Describe the major geologic hazards in the surrounding region associated with this volcano.
Eruption soon, will flow very far

e) Zoom out and examine the region. Describe the likely tectonic setting of the volcanoes of the Andes
mountains (crust types and relative motion). Hint: is there a deep ocean trench to the west of the
mountains?
Oceanic and continental

f) When was the last eruption? Is this volcano considered active, dormant, or extinct? (Slide 3 may be
helpful)

Active 1933

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Mt. St. Helens in southern Washington, USA
Navigate to Slide 6

a) Use your cursor, and the ruler tool when needed, to find the size and shape of the volcano by
filling in the spaces, below.

You will need to exit out of “Present” mode to use the ruler (press ESC or click the back button at the
upper left corner). To find elevation values, you can point your cursor on specific parts of the volcano
in the map and read the elevation values (seen in bottom right corner of the status bar, it is the unit
value to the RIGHT of the coordinates. If it does not pop up, you need to zoom in a little more); you
can also use the provided elevation profile image (in the photo gallery) to obtain some of these
values. Note that these values are approximate and should be generally close to actual values
reported by online resources. Record YOUR approximations:

 Maximum height (elevation) of the volcano above sea level: ________________ meters
 Base elevation of the volcano: ________________ meters
 Relief (maximum elevation – base elevation) = ________________ meters total height
 Base width: ________________ meters.
 Average slope of volcano ((relief ÷ ½width)*100%): _______ %

b) Describe the overall shape of Mt. St. Helens:

Then, fill out this table based on your observations from Google Earth and from online research. You may
refer to the tables under Additional Resources for some help.

Magma
Rock Type Flow Rate Silica Content Viscosity Explosiveness
Composition

c) What type of volcano is this, based on size, shape, and composition?

d) Describe the major geologic hazards in the surrounding region associated with this volcano.

e) Zoom out and examine the region. Are there any other volcanoes nearby? Describe the likely tectonic
setting of the volcanoes of the Cascade Range. Support your answer with observations on the major
tectonic landforms of the region.

f) When was the last eruption? Is this volcano considered active, dormant, or extinct? (Slide 3 may be
helpful)

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii (central Pacific Ocean)
Navigate to Slide 7

a) Use your cursor, and the ruler tool when needed, to find the size and shape of the volcano by
filling in the spaces, below.

You will need to exit out of “Present” mode to use the ruler (press ESC or click the back button at the
upper left corner). To find elevation values, you can point your cursor on specific parts of the volcano
in the map and read the elevation values (seen in bottom right corner of the status bar, it is the unit
value to the RIGHT of the coordinates. If it does not pop up, you need to zoom in a little more); you
can also use the provided elevation profile image (in the photo gallery) to obtain some of these
values. Note that these values are approximate and should be generally close to actual values
reported by online resources. Record YOUR approximations:

 Maximum height (elevation) of the volcano above sea level: ________________ meters
 Base elevation of the volcano: ________________ meters
 Relief (maximum elevation – base elevation) = ________________ meters total height
 Base width: ________________ meters.
 Average slope of volcano ((relief ÷ ½width)*100%): _______ %

b) Describe the overall shape of Mt. St. Helens:

Then, fill out this table based on your observations from Google Earth and from online research. You may
refer to the tables under Additional Resources for some help.

Magma
Rock Type Flow Rate Silica Content Viscosity Explosiveness
Composition

c) What type of volcano is this, based on size, shape, and composition?

d) Describe the major geologic hazards in the surrounding region associated with this volcano.

e) Zoom out and examine the region. Describe the likely tectonic setting of the Hawaiian Islands.
Support your answer with observations on the major tectonic landforms of the region.

f) When was the last eruption? Is this volcano considered active, dormant, or extinct? (Slide 3 may be
helpful)

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Mt. Fuji, Japan
Navigate to Slide 8

a) Use your cursor, and the ruler tool when needed, to find the size and shape of the volcano by
filling in the spaces, below.

You will need to exit out of “Present” mode to use the ruler (press ESC or click the back button at the
upper left corner). To find elevation values, you can point your cursor on specific parts of the volcano
in the map and read the elevation values (seen in bottom right corner of the status bar, it is the unit
value to the RIGHT of the coordinates. If it does not pop up, you need to zoom in a little more); you
can also use the provided elevation profile image (in the photo gallery) to obtain some of these
values. Note that these values are approximate and should be generally close to actual values
reported by online resources. Record YOUR approximations:

 Maximum height (elevation) of the volcano above sea level: ______3700__________ meters
 Base elevation of the volcano: _________1350_______ meters
 Relief (maximum elevation – base elevation) = ________2200________ meters total height
 Base width: _____8800___________ meters.
 Average slope of volcano ((relief ÷ ½width)*100%): _____47__ %

b) Describe the overall shape of Mt. Fuji:

Overall flat around but also tall

Then, fill out this table based on your observations from Google Earth and from online research. You may
refer to the tables under Additional Resources for some help.

Magma
Rock Type Flow Rate Silica Content Viscosity Explosiveness
Composition
basalt baslatic 4-6km high high high

c) What type of volcano is this, based on size, shape, and composition?

Mafic
d) Describe the major geologic hazards associated with this volcano.
Eruption will be devastating for the people in Japan

e) Zoom out and examine the region. Describe the likely tectonic setting of the volcanoes in Japanese
region. Support your answer with observations on the major tectonic landforms of the region.
Continental and convergent

f) When was the last eruption? Is this volcano considered active, dormant, or extinct? (Slide 3 may be
helpful)
Dormant 1707

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Mt. Alayta, Ethiopia
Navigate to Slide 9

a) Use your cursor, and the ruler tool when needed, to find the size and shape of the volcano by
filling in the spaces, below.

You will need to exit out of “Present” mode to use the ruler (press ESC or click the back button at the
upper left corner). To find elevation values, you can point your cursor on specific parts of the volcano
in the map and read the elevation values (seen in bottom right corner of the status bar, it is the unit
value to the RIGHT of the coordinates. If it does not pop up, you need to zoom in a little more); you
can also use the provided elevation profile image (in the photo gallery) to obtain some of these
values. Note that these values are approximate and should be generally close to actual values
reported by online resources. Record YOUR approximations:

 Maximum height (elevation) of the volcano above sea level: ________________ meters
 Base elevation of the volcano: ________________ meters
 Relief (maximum elevation – base elevation) = ________________ meters total height
 Base width: ________________ meters.
 Average slope of volcano ((relief ÷ ½width)*100%): _______ %

b) Describe the overall shape of Mt. Alayta:

Then, fill out this table based on your observations from Google Earth and from online research. You may
refer to the tables under Additional Resources for some help.

Magma
Rock Type Flow Rate Silica Content Viscosity Explosiveness
Composition

c) What type of volcano is this, based on size, shape, and composition?

d) Describe the major geologic hazards in the surrounding region associated with this volcano.

e) Zoom out and examine the region. Describe the likely tectonic setting of the volcanoes in the region
(crust type and motion). Support your answer with observations on the major tectonic landforms of
the region.

f) When was the last eruption? Is this volcano considered active, dormant, or extinct? (Slide 3 may be
helpful)

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Mt Aniakchak, Alaska
Navigate to Slide 10

a) Use your cursor, and the ruler tool when needed, to find the size and shape of the volcano by
filling in the spaces, below.

You will need to exit out of “Present” mode to use the ruler (press ESC or click the back button at the
upper left corner). To find elevation values, you can point your cursor on specific parts of the volcano
in the map and read the elevation values (seen in bottom right corner of the status bar, it is the unit
value to the RIGHT of the coordinates. If it does not pop up, you need to zoom in a little more); you
can also use the provided elevation profile image (in the photo gallery) to obtain some of these
values. Note that these values are approximate and should be generally close to actual values
reported by online resources. Record YOUR approximations:

 Maximum height (elevation) of the volcano above sea level: ________________ meters
 Base elevation of the volcano: ________________ meters
 Relief (maximum elevation – base elevation) = ________________ meters total height
 Base width: ________________ meters.
 Average slope of volcano ((relief ÷ ½width)*100%): _______ %

b) Describe the overall shape of Aniakchak:

Then, fill out this table based on your observations from Google Earth and from online research. You may
refer to the tables under Additional Resources for some help.

Magma
Rock Type Flow Rate Silica Content Viscosity Explosiveness
Composition

c) What type of volcano is this, based on size, shape, and composition?

d) Describe the major geologic hazards in the surrounding region associated with this volcano.

e) Zoom out and examine the region. Describe the likely tectonic setting of the volcanoes in the region
(crust type and motion). Support your answer with observations on the major tectonic landforms of
the region.

f) When was the last eruption? Is this volcano considered active, dormant, or extinct? (Slide 3 may be
helpful)

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity
 Plot your measured values onto the separate Excel sheet provided. For width, convert your values from
meters to kilometers. For composition, convert the names to numbers (Mafic = 1, Intermediate = 2, Felsic
= 3). The four graphs will automatically fill in when the table is complete. This will be your second
deliverable.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summarize volcano type/composition relationships.

3. Go back to your answers for each volcano examined. Use your observations, Excel chart results, and
interpretations to complete the following statements. Use the tables under Additional Resources for
appropriate terms.

 Shield volcanoes usually have a ____dome_________ shape, __low_______ slope, and a

____mafic_________ composition. The magma has a ___high_____volume flow rate with
_____low______ viscosity. It likely has _____less_____ silica content. Shield volcanoes typically erupt
with ______less__ explosivity. The most common hazard(s) are ___toxic waste_____________. The
most common rock type(s) formed here is/are _________basalt________. Shield volcanoes commonly
form in these tectonic settings: ________rift_______.

 Composite volcanoes usually have a ____cone_________ shape, ___high______ slope, and a

___felsic__________ composition. The magma has a ___low_____volume flow rate with
___low________ viscosity. It likely has __high________ silica content. Compositive volcanoes typically
erupt with ___high_______ explosivity. The most common hazard(s) are _____landslides___________.
The most common rock type(s) formed here are ______granite___________. The most common tectonic
setting of composite volcanoes is/are at ______convergent__________ boundaries.

 Caldera volcanoes usually have a ____circular_________ shape, ____high_____ slope, and a

___intermediate__________ composition. The magma has a ___high_____volume flow rate with
___high________ viscosity. It likely has __high________ silica content. Caldera volcanoes typically erupt
with ___high_______ explosivity. The most common hazard(s) are ______ash__________. The most
common rock type(s) formed here are ______volcanic___________. Caldera volcanoes commonly form
in these tectonic settings: _______convergent_________.

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GEOL 1121K Volcano Lab Activity