Name:______
Date______
Volcano Explorers I: What are volcanoes? How do we monitor them?
- What is the question or the problem Alexa is trying to solve through her work?
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- Describe what Alexa does to monitor active volcanoes. What kind of evidence/data does she collect?
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- Scientists use volcano monitoring to make observations of volcanoes to form interpretations of what is happening or what could happen at volcanoes. For each of the following facts or observations, check the box next to the interpretation that the fact or observation best supports. Base your interpretation on eachfact/observation individually. Briefly explain why you chose the interpretation that you did in the space below.
- FACT OR OBSERVATION: Scientists know that a volcano is located near a known subduction zone, where one tectonic plate is moving (subducting) beneath the other.
INTERPRETATION:
□The volcano is erupting explosively.
□It is difficult to determine whether the volcano is erupting explosively based on this fact or observation alone. I need to know more!
□The volcano is erupting without an explosion or not at all.
Volcanoes in subduction zones (like the Ring of Fire) don’t erupt all the time. Just because a volcano is in the Ring of Fire does not mean that a volcano is erupting.
- FACT OR OBSERVATION: Scientists observe a large increase in the number of earthquakes inside the volcano.
INTERPRETATION:
□The volcano is erupting explosively.
□It is difficult to determine whether the volcano is erupting explosively based on this fact or observation alone. I need to know more!
□The volcano is erupting without an explosion or not at all.
Earthquakes can sometimes be important for detecting eruptions, but earthquakes at volcanoes do not always mean that an eruption is occurring. It could also be the kind of earthquake that is not caused by the volcano.
- FACT OR OBSERVATION: Scientists observe a large amount of lightning at the volcano.
INTERPRETATION:
□The volcano is erupting explosively.
□It is difficult to determine whether the volcano is erupting explosively based on this fact or observation alone. I need to know more!
□The volcano is erupting without an explosion or not at all.
Like earthquakes, lightning can sometimes be important for detecting eruptions. However, just because there is lightning does not mean that there is an eruption. It could just be a thunderstorm.
- FACT OR OBSERVATION: You receive a report that people see a gray cloud near the volcano.
INTERPRETATION:
□The volcano is erupting explosively.
□It is difficult to determine whether the volcano is erupting explosively based on this fact or observation alone. I need to know more!
□The volcano is erupting without an explosion or not at all.
This COULD be an ash cloud but it is hard to be sure without seeing it yourself. It could be astorm cloud.
- Imagine that you are a member of Alexa’s team. Each of your teammates gathers a different type of observation from the volcano. You are all at work and suddenly a red light starts flashing and you hear a “beep!” You all check your monitoring observations. Together, you all know that:
- Your volcano is located near a known subduction zone, where one tectonic plate is moving (subducting) beneath the other.
- You observe a large increase in the number of earthquakes inside the volcano.
- You observe a large amount of lightning at the volcano.
AND
- You receive a report that people see a gray cloud near the volcano.
Form an interpretation based on all of these facts or observations together and explain your interpretation in the space below.
□The volcano is erupting explosively.
□It is difficult to determine whether the volcano is erupting explosively based on this fact or observation alone. I need to know more!
□The volcano is erupting without an explosion or not at all.
By themselves, none of these observations indicate that an explosive eruption is happening. However, when they are all happening at once, it is very likely that an explosive eruption is occurring.
- Think about your answers to Question 3. Why is it important for Alexa to work in a team with other scientists that also study active volcanoes but who gather different types of evidence/data?
Because typically no single monitoring observation shows that an explosive eruption is occurring, it is important to gather multiple types of evidence and data. You need a team of people who each gather different types of evidence before you can reach a conclusion.