Danger in Our Backyard: Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis!

Explain ~ What new learning have you taken from this module?

In this module I have learned about the creation story of Hawaii and the controversy surrounding the astronomy site in Hawaii.  These were both things that I previously did not know about.  We used Google Earth several times in this module and I think that I can know say I feel comfortable with it and would now feel comfortable using it in my classroom. 

Image from Google Earth- real time earthquakes.

Extend ~ How can/will you use this week’s resources and/or others in your community in your lessons? 

There is emotion and excitement in watching a cataclysmic event and it catches our attention.  This module presented a lot of material that can be used to engage students and allow them to explore the material.  In addition, The Ultimate Guide: Volcanoes is a Discovery Channel video that highlights the dangers of volcanoes, the link is connected to a clip from the video.  The Alaska Volcano Observatory has an  interactive map that allows students to explore the Alaskan volcanoes.  It is similar to the TD resource, however, students can look at recent earthquakes, webcams, monitored and other volcanoes, and seismic stations, in addition there is more information stored within the website.

Image from Google Earth- real time earthquakes.

  Using the Resources

It could be a good exercise for students to create a emergency plan for the community they live in.  I would incorporate the stories of people that have lived through these cataclysmic events before and stories that have been passed down.  Students could use Google Earth to evaluate the surrounding landscape and decide how a earthquake, volcano, tsunami would affect the village/town/city.  Where would be a good location for people to gather?  What resources would still be available?  What would be the best escape route?  What community members would need assistance?  These are very relevant questions for a community that has the potential to face a natural disaster. 


Evaluate ~ how useful, insightful, or relevant are this module’s information and resources for you?  

The content presented in the module is very relevant living in the geologically dynamic state of Alaska.  It is also very relevant for people in other states, countries, and of various cultures.  Cataclysmic events have an ability to remind humans that we are small in comparison to the forces of the world and this feeling connects all people when these natural events occur. 

As I was going through this week’s module, I continuously thought about my travels in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.  The Galapagos were also created through the hot spot plumes.  The USGS has website that discusses hot spots and includes the map of the prominent hot spots in the world. 

Ecuador is home to several volcanoes due to the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate.  One of these volcanoes is Tungurahua.  The video The Ultimate Guide Volcanoes shows the story of two foreign volcanologists that are trying to predict the eruption of Tungurahua and protect the
local community of Banos.  The community is evacuated, but the residence return when the volcano doesn't erupt.  The video ends and lives you wondering, what happens?  Does the volcano erupt?

Volcano in Ecuador, Kuehl

Google Earth Image- the town of Banos, Ecuador and Tungurahua.

And yes, eventually the volcano did erupt.  You can visit the youtube clip of the CNN broadcast or read the article also posted by CNN for more information.

In the video the volcanologist are outsiders, trying to warn people that have a long history connected to an area that there is was imminent threat to their life.  Would it have been different had the volcanologist been from Ecuador?  Or perhaps even from that region in Ecuador?  If the community had created an emergency plan and made provisions to safeguard the community upon evacuation, would it have been easier to leave?  When people have the ability to critically examine threats to their community and determine their own plan, the implementation is usually more successful and the results more positive.  

3 Colleagues

Dan Aldair referenced the PHet simulations.  Those are great for helping students grasp concepts- I have used them numerous times in my teaching!

Sabrina Sutton comments on Module II are very insightful.  Thank you very much for sharing your experiences growing up on Kodiak, at UAF, and then as an adult in Kodiak.  I also enjoyed the idea of the potluck for the new teachers to connect them to the local network of agencies and people.  As a new teacher that would have been awesome!


Marilyn thanks for introducting me to the Mac seismometer!  I am going to have to check it out!