SOCIAL SCIENCES (GEOGRAPHY) GEOMORPHOLOGY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
UNIT 5: VOLCANOES
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Types of volcanoes
• Structure of volcanoes
• Impact of volcanoes on people and the environment
TYPES OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY
There are two main types of volcanic activity; namely intrusive (inside the Earth’s crust) and extrusive (on
the Earth’s crust).
Refer to the diagram below and complete the table beneath it.
Intrusive Igneous Features
Batholith
Pluton A body of intrusive igneous rock (batholiths, dikes, sills, etc)
Magma Chamber A reservoir of magma within the Earth’s crust beneath a volcano
Dike
Sill
Laccolith
Lopolith
Exposed batholith on Earth’s surface. (refer to your massive igneous rock notes.
Granite Dome
*Grd 11)
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SOCIAL SCIENCES (GEOGRAPHY) GEOMORPHOLOGY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
UNIT 5: VOLCANOES
TYPES OF VOLCANOES
There are three main types of volcanoes and these are classified according to their activity. A volcano that
regularly erupts, or has erupted in the last 30 years or so is known as an active volcano while a volcano
that has not been active for a few hundred years but may still yet erupt is called a dormant volcano. A
volcano that has not erupted in all of recorded history, and shows no signs of doing so in the imminent
future, is known as an extinct volcano.
In this section we are going to focus on active volcanoes.
Volcanoes are classified according to their and the way in which they .
Cinder Cone Volcanoes
These are steep-sided volcanoes formed by the Magma Vent
deposition of solid material. The lava is almost
solid (consists of ash, lava bombs, rock chunks, Fine Cinder
partially solidified lava and so on). The eruptions ash
from these are often extremely explosive and in
some cases, so powerful that the entire volcano
just explodes; leaving nothing behind but a
hollow depression in the land which is called a
caldera.
Ash-cinder volcano
Shield Volcanoes
These are formed by basalt lava,
which is extremely hot (above
1200°C) and very fluid. As a result
Flank
of the lava being so fluid, the lava eruption
Central vent
flows for a long distance before Lava flow
cooling, so the sides of the volcano
are gentle (therefore, it looks like
a shield) and the eruptions are not 5.8km
deep
very explosive. There is a lot of time
120km
to evacuate an area. The Hawaiian
Islands are an example of this type Shield volcano
of volcano.
Composite Volcanoes
These are the most common kind of volcano and are made up of alternating layers of ash and lava. The
lava is not that hot (ranging from 800°C to 1200 °C. As a result, the lava is “clumpy” and thick. The lava
does not flow smoothly and the sides of the volcano are steep as a result.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES (GEOGRAPHY) GEOMORPHOLOGY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
UNIT 5: VOLCANOES
THE FORMATION OF A CALDERA
In the spaces below; outline the formation of a caldera.
1.
2.
3.
TIME FOR SOME RESEARCH…
What is
Ash and gas cloud
pyroclastic
cloud?
Crater cone
Lava
Vent
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SOCIAL SCIENCES (GEOGRAPHY) GEOMORPHOLOGY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
UNIT 5: VOLCANOES
Complete the following mind-map.
Positive
effects of
volcanoes
Negative
effects of
volcanoes
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SOCIAL SCIENCES (GEOGRAPHY) GEOMORPHOLOGY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
UNIT 5: VOLCANOES
ACITVITY 6
Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow:
Revealing the risks of a recently
active volcano in Southern Chile
A study by a Victoria University Earth scientist
has revealed the frightening potential risk
posed by a recently active volcano in southern
Chile, and provides insight into what could
happen in New Zealand.
Associate Professor Brent Alloway, from Victoria
University of Wellington’s School of Geography,
Environment and Earth Sciences (SGEES) is senior
co-author in collaborative research (Chile-New
Zealand-Argentina-United Kingdom) which was
the cover story in January’s issue of the leading Sediments from a small lake located close to
journal Geology. Chaitén Volcano revealed 26 volcanic ash layers
The article reveals the past history of the Chaitén that were deposited over the last 10,000 years,
volcano in southern Chile, which erupted in 2008, 10 of which came from Chaitén Volcano. So, in
resulting in the partial destruction of nearby addition to the 2008 eruption, there had been
Chaitén township and serious disruption to three previously unknown eruptions between
population centres, infrastructure and economy 600 and 850 A.D. as well as another at around
downwind in Argentina. 420 A.D. That means eruptions have been
occurring at Chaitén about every 200 years over
“The 2008 Chaitén eruption made international the last 1000 years.
headlines at the time since, in the eyes of the
media, it was an out-of-the-blue event occurring “It’s pretty clear that our results will need to
without warning,” says Dr Alloway. be carefully considered by both the Chilean
authorities and the local community as they
“From a scientific point of view it was a unique and continue with restoration and rebuilding in the
exciting opportunity to view an explosive rhyolitic aftermath of the 2008 eruption. There’s always
(high silica) eruption—the first of its type to be a likelihood that there will be another eruption
experienced world-wide since the Novarupta at Chaitén, the timing of which, along with
(Alaska) eruption of 1912. its magnitude, cannot be predicted with any
certainty.
“The eruption provided an unprecedented
scientific opportunity to examine all facets of such “Real-time seismic monitoring of Chaitén Volcano
an eruption ranging from magma ascendency should assist in providing timely advance
rates to ash-fall effects on infrastructure and warning of an impending eruption and help to
organisms. This eruption was also recognised as prevent any loss of life in the future.”
being similar in magnitude, as well as physical
and chemical characteristics, to what could be Chaitén volcano is visited and studied by third
reasonably be expected in future eruptions from and fourth year Earth science students at Victoria
volcanic centres situated in the Taupo Volcanic University as part of a field-trip based course
Zone here in New Zealand.” held in southern Chile and Argentina, run by Dr
Alloway every two years.
(reference:[Link] Accessed: 11 Mar 2015)
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SOCIAL SCIENCES (GEOGRAPHY) GEOMORPHOLOGY
GRADE 10 TERM 2
UNIT 5: VOLCANOES
1. What type of volcano is being described in the article? Quote from the article to justify your choice.
2. According to the article, why is it important to study volcanic activity?
3. What do you understand by the following quote from the article?
The eruption provided an unprecedented scientific opportunity to examine all facets of such an eruption
ranging from magma ascendency rates to ash-fall effects on infrastructure and organisms.
4. Examine four possible negative economic effects of volcanic eruptions?
5. Discuss four positive aspects of volcanoes.
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