January 31st, 2011 -- Posted in Volcanoes |
Whether for a science fair or for an earth science class, the school project all kids look forward to is to make their own volcano. I remember having a tall stratovolcano in mind, and being horribly embarrassed by my flat-as-a-pancake shield volcano. My volcano was all the more wretched by the fact that red molten lava didn’t spew out of it like some of the other kid’s projects did.
Kids With Their Volcano
But what an exciting time that was at school. I learned about the different kinds of volcanoes, how volcanoes are created, what our planet is like inside, and the effects of volcanic eruptions. Kids even talked about volcanoes at recess. That didn’t happen at any other time of the year. I’ve included some links for you to help your child with their important science project, lest they end up like me. Click here for steps to learn how to make your own volcano. Click here to see how to make your volcano erupt.
May 7th, 2010 -- Posted in Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Ash plume from Eyjafjallajökull
Updates from the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Icelandreport that at least 10 earthquakes have been located at Eyjafjallajökull since midnight. Most are less that magnitude 2. Measurements show continued horizontal displacement around Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Explosive activity has increased, and with considerable tephra fallout, the cinder cone continues to build. Dark ash plumes have been observed at hieight of 20,000 – 22,000 feet. Scientists have reported, “everything turned black”. The lava channels are about 30 – 60 m wide. And according to UPI, Iceland’s volcano roared back to life on Thursday. “The eruption has changed back to an explosive eruption, lava has stopped flowing and most of the magma gets scattered due to explosions in the crater,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.
Will more disruptions in air travel occur? Will Eyjafjallajökull volcano return to the eruptive intensity it displayed in April? Scientists continue to say that “there are no signs the eruption is about to end.”
April 29th, 2010 -- Posted in Volcanoes |
Eyjafjallajökull
Eyjafjallajökull is one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland. Only three eruptions are known at Eyjafjallajökull in historical times, one in 920 A.D., another in 1612 AD, and the most recent in 1821. But on March 20, 2010 Eyjafjallajökull exploded back to life.
According to scientists at the Institute of Earth Sciences Nordic Volcanological Center, today the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull has a continuing discharge of meltwater from Gigjokull Glacier due to ice melt caused by the volcano. Booming sounds have been reported as far as 32 km from the eruption site. While ash and steam rise to an elevation of 3.6 km (12,000 ft), ejected lava reached heights of 660 feet. Would we expect anything less from an active stratovolcano?
Scientists are monitoring Eyjafjallajökull with radar observations, GPS measurements, satellite images, seismic monitors, river gauges, aerial observations, and geologist’s inspections of tephra. Tephra is the term for materials of all types and sizes thrown into the air by a volcanic eruption.