Volcanoes

Volcanoes

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you will be able to identify the main characteristics of volcanoes and the processes that lead to their formation. At the end of the lesson you will be able to distinguish between the different types of volcanoes and their features. At the end of the lesson you will be able to understand the role of plate tectonics in the formation and distribution of volcanoes. At the end of the lesson you will be able to explain the environmental and climatic impacts of volcanic eruptions. At the end of the lesson you will be able to recognize the presence of volcanoes on other planetary bodies besides Earth.

What do you already know about volcanoes?

Introduction to Volcanoes and Their Formation

Volcanoes are openings in a planet's crust that allow magma, ash, and gases to escape from below the surface. Earth's volcanoes are primarily found along tectonic plate boundaries, especially at divergent and convergent boundaries, and can also form at hotspots or rifts.

Plate Tectonics and the Relationship to Volcanoes

Plate tectonics: The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle. Divergent boundary: A tectonic plate boundary where two plates are moving away from each other. Convergent boundary: A tectonic plate boundary where two plates are moving towards each other. Hotspot: A location on Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period, thought to be fed by underlying mantle plumes.

Types of Volcanoes and Volcanic Features

The various types of volcanoes include shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, cinder cones, and supervolcanoes, each with unique features and eruption styles.

Volcanic Eruptions and Their Environmental Impact

Large eruptions can lead to volcanic winters and have profound environmental effects.

Volcanism Beyond Earth

Volcanic activity is not exclusive to Earth and exists on other planetary bodies.

Definition List

Volcano: A rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object that allows lava, ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. Plate tectonics: The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle. Divergent boundary: A tectonic plate boundary where two plates are moving away from each other. Convergent boundary: A tectonic plate boundary where two plates are moving towards each other. Hotspot: A location on Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period, thought to be fed by underlying mantle plumes. Mantle plume: A proposed mechanism of convection within the Earth's mantle that leads to volcanic activity at the surface. Supervolcano: A volcano that has had an eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 8, the largest value on the index.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.