Essays on Volcano

Volcanic Activity and Earthquakes

Natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes have led to a substantial shaping of the earth’s surface as well as the environment over millions of years. According to Cusick (7), a volcano is an area where molten rock or magma from the earth’s crust reaches the surface of the earth becoming lava. Volcanic eruptions can be usually effusive and explosive according to the chemistry of the lava. This includes the amount of silica and dissolved gases in the lava. Thick lava has high silica levels while fluid lava has low silica levels. The higher the amount of dissolved gases ...

Visit the Virtual Caves website: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/index.html. Briefly describe and provide an example of Solutional caves, Sea caves, Erosional caves, and Lava tube caves. Solutional Caves: Solutional caves are formed by chemical reaction between the groundwater and the rock bedrock consisting of limestone. Ground water contains dissolved carbon dioxide which is a weak solution of carbonic acid and is capable of dissolving the rock slowly. This makes the passage of water wider and takes the shape of the cave. The most common example of solutional caves is flowstone. Flowstone is mostly composed of calcite and becomes rounder as it tends ...

There is a relationship between volcanic eruption and the climate of a place. After the eruption, the poisonous sulphur dioxide which is emitted out as a volcanic product, reacts and get oxidized to form sulphate aerosols in the stratosphere, hence affecting the climate adversely (Forster 2007). Volcanic ashes and particles having diameter larger than 2 um also affects the atmosphere. According to Ramaswamy (1996), ozone depletion results when the volcanic aerosols react with the balanced chemistry in the stratosphere. Mid and high latitudes volcanic eruptions create drastic climatic changes. The aerosols here retain over the hemisphere and cause climate to change. For ...

Volcanoes often vary in terms of shape and structure. Some volcanoes can be small, cone-shaped, or some can be characterized as simply cracks in the earth’s crust where lava and other volcanic materials erupt; some volcanoes can be large and shaped like domes, shields; and lastly, there are volcanoes that are shaped like a mountain with a matching crater or a system of craters on its summit. There are numerous mechanisms how volcanoes are formed: the most common type of volcanism (mechanism how volcanoes are formed) is hot spot volcanism.

Most volcanoes are formed when an unusual magma activity forms in ...

Minerals are classified by their chemical composition as Silicates, Phosphorites, carbonates, and halides are all major mineral groups.

Silicates contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O), the two most abundant elements in the earth and comprise the majority of Earth's crust. They have a chemical formula SiO2. Common silicate minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, mica and quartz.

Phosphorites are sedimentary rocks of biochemical origin and are rich in phosphate with chemical formula PO4. They are mostly used as chemical fertilizers. They are also used as food preservatives, anti-corrosion agent and also in the field of metallurgy. Limestone and mudstone are common phosphate bearing rocks.Carbonates are the minerals mostly found in the Earth’s near surface crust. They have ...

In 1968, the research vessel Glomar Challenger ventured on a year-long scientific expedition, between South America and Africa and drilled core samples at specific locations assigned to it. When tested, these samples provided the conclusion that proved the seafloor spreading hypothesis to be true. The JOIDES Resolution is a deep-sea drilling ship of the 1990s. This ship is capable of carrying more than 9,000 m of drill pipe. It is also known for its precise positioning and deeper drilling than the Glomar Challenger.

According to the maps and diagrams on the website, where are the major concentrations of the world's earthquakes? Where do most of the earthquakes in Europe occur?

The most important concentration of earthquakes occurs in the region so called Ring of Fire, which encircles ...

Explain how the outward flow of energy from the Earth’s interior drives the process of plate Tectonics

All the earth processes are a result of energy flow and mass circulation in and outside of the earth system. Plate tectonics is an earth process that involves the movement of the lithosphere caused by internal processes inside the earth’s mantle (Kent C 154). This is as a result of convection currents within the earth’s crust caused by the heat in the crust. This heat in the crust is due to the initial heat during the earth’s formation and through the radioactive process. The earth’s core is made of radioactive elements such as uranium which decay and ...

1) Explain how the outward flow of energy from the Earth’s interior drives the process of plate tectonics?

The outermost layer of earth, or lithosphere, is broken up into tectonic plates. The boundaries of the plates and their movement leads to the formation of earthquakes, volcanic activity, creation of mountains, and the formation of oceanic trenches. Tectonic plates are formed from either oceanic crust or continental crust, with many containing both. The movement of the plates varies from 0-100mm in a given year. The movement of these plates comes from the outward energy of flow that comes from earth’s central core. Radioactivity produced from elements within earth’s core, such as uranium, decay and release energy. The ...

1) Explain how the outward flow of energy from the Earth’s interior drives the process of plate tectonics?

The earth’s composition consists of a crust, mantle and core. The earth’s core consists of elements like uranium which are radioactive. Due to the phenomenon of radioactivity, these elements decay and trigger a reaction. Because of this a large amount of energy is produced in the core and inner core of the earth. Because of this energy, the core of the earth is very hot and in a molten state. This heat is transferred from the core to the crust by the process convection currents formed in the molten core, creating a cycle of rising and falling of the molten material. This ...

2) There are justifications on the presence of the moon. Perhaps, collision-ejection theory of the moon gives an explains on the issues. The theory asserts that the moon exists due to the formation of debris ejected from the earth, especially when objects crushed. Collision-ejection theory claims that the newly formed earth collided with mars at an angle, which splashed the layers of the earth surface into the orbit around it. This implies that the Earth crust and mantle formed the moon though condensation. There are various facts on the moon that the theory is consistent with. Some of the ...

A natural disaster occurs as the effect of natural hazard. The UN office for co-ordination of humanitarian affairs, defines natural disaster as the “consequences of events triggered by natural hazards that overwhelm local response capacity and seriously affect the social and economic development of a region.”. According to the UN office definition, not all natural phenomenons that occur on planet earth can be termed as natural disasters. A natural phenomenon becomes natural disaster when it proves uncontrollable during its occurrence. For instance, when hurricanes strike an uninhabited island, such a phenomenon cannot be termed as a natural disaster. In this case, ...

In this paper we will discuss Etna volcano which is situated on 37° 45′ 18″ N, 14° 59′ 43″ E.

General Information Etna is an active stratovolcano located on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. This is the highest active volcano in Europe. Now the height of Etna is 3329 m above sea level. It often varies from eruption to eruption. So, now the volcano is 21.6 m lower than it was in 1865. Etna is the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps, it covers an area of ​​1250 square kilometers. Thus, Etna - the largest active volcano in Italy, surpassing its closest "opponent" Vesuvius more than 2.5 times. Throughout its existence ...

The rock I will be examining in this report is granite. Granite – is the most commonly spread rock in the continental crust formed by the slow cooling and solidification of magmatic melting rocks in depth. Granite can also be formed during metamorphism – under the influence of high temperature and pressure, as well as under the influence of a variety of liquids and gases (fluids), rising from the depths. Granites play a huge role in the structure of the Earth`s crust and the whole continents, since this solid rock is one of the main materials forming the outer part of the ...

Tsunamis

Introduction A tsunami (“a wave in port” in Japanese) are the marine gravity waves that are extremely large in length and height, and are the result of the up or down shift of ocean bottom areas with strong underwater and coastal earthquakes, occasionally, though, are the result of volcanic eruptions and other tectonic processes. Tsunamis are among those few natural disasters that are capable of causing huge numbers. First chapter of this research is dedicated to the causes of tsunami, wave formation mechanism, and waves’ various characteristics. The topic of the conducted research is highly relevant to our area if ...

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Introduction 3 Geological Environment and Processes Responsible 4 Geological and Topographical Features of the Plate Margin 6 Human and Environmental Impacts 8 Discussion 10 Conclusions 11

Introduction

On 11 April 2012 two huge earthquakes occurred beneath the floor of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of North Sumatra. Registering a magnitude of 8.6, the first was followed by another of 8.2 magnitude, which scientists subsequently identified as an aftershock. Neither triggered a large scale tsunami, which scientists attribute to the movement being of the “strike-slip” type, rather than the “thrust” type. However, strike-slip earthquakes are normally of a ...

Are you one of those adventurers who are planning to climb Mount Everest to reach the highest point on earth? You may have to change your plans already. Mount Chimborazo, located in the Cordillera Occidental, Andes Mountains, Ecuador has been found out to be the “Highest Mountain above the Earth’s Center”. Although, Mt. Everest has the highest altitude, Mount Chimborazo is said to be higher by at least two (2) kilometers than Mount Everest due to the “equatorial bulge” of the earth. (geology.com, 2014) Mount Chimborazo is an Andean stratovolcano in Central Ecuador. It is also the ...

1. How do continents grow and how are they modified Continents arise due to movement of plates causing boundaries within the earth surface. Plates move through the oceanic crust along narrow zones between each other leading to the development of plate-tectonic forces. As a result, this forces leads to development of boundaries between the plates. This plates becomes the continents. Generally, continents arise because of continental drift that forces a single land mass on the earth surface to split and drift hence forming a continent. Their modification arises due to various plate boundaries that develop within the earth surface. These boundaries ...

Abstract

The Altar basin found in the north western Sonora of Mexico, is a known subsidiary basin forming the present inactive part of the Colorado River delta. The sedimentary records of this basin show how the delta upgraded over a late Miocene. A structurally distinct aquatic basin at the northern end of the Gulf of California is found. Our interpretation of outcrop data, and information from exploratory wells, as well as analog seismic lines of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), and magnetic and gravity explorations from various sources pointed to the existence of three sedimentary sequences, which can be related at regional scale ...

My favorite food – Pizza

Who hasn’t enjoyed eating food? If you are dining at home or eating out at your favorite restaurant with family and friends it is always a treat. I love to eat pepperoni pizza, it is my favorite. Just thinking about a large pepperoni pizza gives me an irresistible hunger that becomes painful in the stomach if I do not get my favorite food. On entering the restaurant the delicious, warm smell of dough and a million spices tickles the nostrils and sends finger-like sensors to the brain. Sitting and waiting is torture and the anticipation of biting into tender, juicy, meaty ...

Background

More than six months ago, on June 27, a volcanic eruption occurred in Hawaii, its lava continuing to bubble till September. It crawled its way from the erupted volcano till the edges of the nearest village, causing people to evacuate from their homes. The leading edge of the lava flow was about 110 meters wide with an average speed of 5 meters per hour. The volcanic eruption occurred at the mountain Kilauea. Volcano experts quote Kilauea as “the most continuously active volcano on Earth; lava streaming into the ocean at a steady rate of around 5 [metres per second] for years ...

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Vitrophyre Rhyolite in Valles Caldera

Vitrophyre Rhyolite is a type of igneous rock found in the Sante Fe and Valles Caldera areas of New Mexico (see map). Rhyolites are the extrusive equivalents of the plutonic rocks and hence the Rhyolite outcrops closely resemble granite formations. They are composed of high content of Silica and low in iron and magnesium. The Rhyolite melts are intensely polymerized and their lavas are very viscous. The Rhyolites are also known to occur in volcanic plugs and dykes. Figure 1. The cross sections and the geological maps of ...

Volcanoes - geological formations on the surface of the earth's crust or another planet's crust where magma reaches the surface, forming lava, volcanic gases, rocks, volcanic bombs and pyroclastic flows. Volcanoes are divided according to the degree of volcanic activity on the active, dormant and extinct. An active volcano is considered to be a volcano erupted in historical time period or during the holocene. The concept of "active" is quite inaccurate, since the volcano, which has active fumaroles, some scientists refer to the active, and some refer this volcanoes to be extinct. Sleepers are considered to be inactive volcanoes, ...

A Review

- Introduction In summary, the article by James Wood and Alex Guth entitled “East Africa's Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System” provides information about the East Africa Rift Systems. The geology of the rift system was described. Also, the formation of the said rift system was discussed by providing a model supporting the geology of the rift system. Overall, the article strikes as a journal with a theme that concerns the geology of the East Africa Rift System. However, it must be important to emphasize the strong and weak points of the article. Needless to say, this paper shall function as a ...

1. Meteors’ Hunting in the Antarctic Glaciers The Antarctica is a popular and unique area for finding meteors because of the extremely cold weather conditions in this area (Gonzalez). Scientists find meteorites easily in the Antarctica since the meteorites are frozen in glaciers. Moreover, these meteorites are well-preserved unlike those that fall on earth or the sea, where they are hidden among other objects. Identifying meteorites in glaciers is relatively easy. Since meteorites are dark, they are easily visible against an ice background. Moreover, many of them are preserved for years owing to the freezing temperatures of the ...

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Vitrophyre Rhyolite in Valles Caldera

Vitrophyre Rhyolite is a type of igneous rock found in the Sante Fe and Valles Caldera areas of New Mexico (see map). Rhyolites are the extrusive equivalents of the plutonic rocks and hence the Rhyolite outcrops closely resemble granite formations. They are composed of high content of Silica and low in iron and magnesium. The Rhyolite melts are intensely polymerized and their lavas are very viscous. The Rhyolites are also known to occur in volcanic plugs and ...

Earthquakes are vibrations of the Earth that are caused by the rupture and sudden movement of rocks along faults or breaks within the earth's crust. The elastic-rebound theory is a model used to explain the origin of earthquakes. It illustrates the buildup of elastic strain from stresses within the earth's crust and the abrupt release of energy along faults as the rocks return or rebound to their initial state (Ristau 249; Hamblin and Christiansen 510). The point within the Earth where the earthquake's energy is generated by the initial slippage or movement is called the focus. The epicenter is the ...

Geography is one of the ancient earth science. The word ‘Geo’ meaning ‘Earth’ and ‘graphy’ meaning ‘to describe’ was first used by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar in third century B.C. Geography is basically the study of the earth’s surface and associated changes and impacts associated with it. It is the study of the interactions of all physical and human phenomena and also the landforms created during these interactions. Physical geography is one of the main discipline of geographical science. It is mainly concerned with the study of the spatial patterns of weather and climate, soils and vegetation, water in ...

The Sequoia and Kings Canyon in the United States is famous for having the highest and the jagged relief in the entire Sierra region. The rugged topographical nature of these parks is attributed to the formation of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in eastern California. According to Liu and Shen, the formation of this mountain range has been the subject of profound controversy (299). Huber suggested that the uplifting of the range, now approximated at slightly over 2800m above the adjacent lowlands, occurred in the past 20 million years (Liu & Shen 299). A number of subsequent seismic studies conducted ...

Introduction

Plate tectonics is important because it explains the reasons for the deformation of Earth’s surface. Plate Tectonics theory assumes that the Earth’s surface was broken into several small plates and the plates have collided with each other to form the continents. The theory explains that the oceans and continents also move in addition to the tectonic plates. It also explains the global distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes. The plate tectonics explains the major features of the earth, such as the continents and oceans, the earthquakes and volcanoes and the mountains and valleys. The theory explained that the ...

How inequality and inequity impacted death rate and government response with the eruption of Nevado del ruiz volcano?

This paper analyzes how inequality and inequity in the developing countries like Columbia contributes to vulnerability during the natural disasters. In relation to Armero, the government failed to provide the necessary information before the eruption of the Volcano. The government failed to provide the necessary facilities and resources to rescue the victims of the volcanic eruption. The unequal distribution of resources in Columbia led to poor action and response to disasters like the volcanic eruption. Poor or little investment in disaster management made Columbia fail to predict the dangerous volcanic eruption in Armero. Columbia failed to allocate adequate resources ...

Costa Rica is a Latin American country with a unique topography and geography. The country is relatively small yet it has geographical features similar to large countries. Costa Rica has a blend of coastal plains where the sandy beaches are and the mountainous highly forested regions in the central of the country running northwest to southeast of the country. The highlands are hilly almost throughout apart from the Meseta central, which is fertile relatively flat region where majority of the Costa Rica’s population lives. Meseta Central elevation ranges from 900 to 1200 meters above sea level and covers approximately two thousand ...

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Volcanic Disasters in Modern and Ancient Times: A Comparison

This essay will address social issues concerned with the volcanic eruptions. As it is an interesting topic, I will be writing about two volcanic disasters. Firstly, I will discuss the A.D. 79 Eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Secondly, I will talk about the 2013 Eruption of Sumatra Volcano. Later, I will be making a comparison between the mentioned volcanic eruptions and the damage they caused. The question is what causes volcanoes to erupt? An eruption starts when there is a pressure on magma chamber. This pressure forces magma to rise up through the conduit and come out ...

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Abstract The latest GOES series was launched on 23rd July 2001 but attained geostationary orbit on 12th August 2001, therefore name as GOES-12. The imager had advanced features comparing with the previous ones. The imager had a spectral band centered at 13.3 m that eliminated 12 m, 6.5 m modified band with a spatial resolution improved from 8 km to 4 km at the sub-satellite point. This improvements that were made on GOES-12 improved several satellite products like satellite-derived wind fields and cloud properties. These products are capable of utilizing the data that is produced by 12 m band ...

Volcanism refers to the eruption of magma or molten rock, or hot water and steam, including volcanoes, pyroclastic fragments, geysers, as well as fumaroles on top of the surface of a planet (Encyclopedia Britannica 1). A volcano refers to the vent through which gases and magma are discharged. When a planet loses its internal heat it results to volcanism. When a rock that is close to the surface becomes hot sufficiently enough to melt, it results to a volcano being formed. On the Earth, volcanism often occurs in association with plate boundaries. Where two plates move apart, for instance at mid-ocean volcanic ...

Understanding of Pompeii about Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD 79

When the Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, it caught the population of Pompeii by surprise and utterly unprepared. Though we know now that all the signs of possible volcano were there in AD 79 but the residents of those times had no idea of the warning signs. We only get to know about the tyranny through the preserved letters from Younger Pliny who was an eye-witness to the disaster. Through him and his account we have gained insight of the reactions and effect on the people caught in the natural disaster. Younger Pliny’s letters leave no shadow ...

Introduction

The name diamond owes its origin to Greece. The term is a corruption of the Greek term Adamas, which means the invincible or the unbreakable. In mineralogy, diamond refers to an allotrope of carbons, which is capable of transiting from one state to another. The carbon atoms within the mineral are arranged in a cubic-centered crystal known as the diamond lattice. The diamond mineral has the formula C and exists in Isometric-Hexoctahedral (cubic) crystal system. It is also essential to note that diamond exists in the space group C63/mmc. Diamond exists in different varieties, as distinguished by their colors. Typically, ...

In general, global warming happens when the earth’s surface temperature rises. Scientists have emphasized that the warming of the earth is a natural process. Greenhouse gases are vital in maintaining an optimal temperature for the survival of all living organisms (Spencer, 2007). While it is true that such warming is important, excessive greenhouse gases may result to substantial increase in temperature (Spencer, 2007). Such increase in temperature may have dire consequences to the planet.

Some Aspects of Natural and Anthropogenic Climate Change

Natural climate change occurs as a result of physical earth processes such as volcanic eruptions. Major volcanic eruptions release tons of gases and particulate matters in ...

Introduction

This research paper discusses the phenomenon of earthquakes – the geography and distribution of where they occur, and the explanations of the forces and processes involved. The theory explains why they occur more in some places than others and describes related phenomena including volcanic activity.

The Research

The accepted theory of the cause of most earthquakes cites the continuous movements of huge sections of the earth’s crust (known as the lithosphere), which comprises tectonic plates (Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics” 1977), which are further classified as either oceanic or continental plates, dependent on their location on the Earth’s surface: beneath the ...

Mauna Loa Volcano within Hawaii largely erupt a rock type referred as basalt (HCV, 2008). When in molten state, basalt generates liquids of high fluidity. The fluidity of the molten basalt supports the flow of lava that is why the Mauna Loa Volcano generally has gentle sloping sides (HCV, 2008). The high eruption rate occurring at Mauna Loa Volcano, together with steep slopes, favors far and fast flows of lava or magma. In contrary, Mayon is categorized as a composite cone or stratovolcano. It is made of deposits formed primarily by four main forms of volcanic activity: pryoclastic flows, air-fall ...

Introduction

For more than 150 million years, dinosaurs roamed across the earth. However, most dinosaurs became extinct suddenly within a short time. The last of the dinosaurs are estimated to have died about 65 million years ago. The cause of their extinction continues to be a mystery, with a number of factors such as diseases, climate change, geologic events and changing plant communities being thought to have played a part in the demise of dinosaurs. Of late, theories of dinosaur extinction have been the subject of much controversy and debate. The explanation that seems to have the support of many scientists spells out that ...

Introduction

This research paper discusses the phenomenon of earthquakes – the geography and distribution of where they occur, and the explanations of the forces and processes involved. The theory explains why they occur more in some places than others and describes related phenomena including volcanic activity.

The Research

The accepted theory of the cause of most earthquakes cites the continuous movements of huge sections of the earth’s crust (known as the lithosphere), which comprises tectonic plates (Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics” 1977), which are further classified as either oceanic or continental plates, dependent on their location on the Earth’s surface: beneath the ...

Igneous, what are they? Igneous is a type of rock which is formed when magma or lava is cooled and solidified. Basically melting is caused by an increase in temperature, pressure decrease, or changes in composition.

Extrusive vs. Intrusive: Intrusive is the type of rock which is cooled slowly, in such rocks we can see a better crystal growth, though extrusive is the type which cooled quickly, in result these rocks have less crystal growth and are fine grained. Texture (classifications) : Shape, orientation, size and distribution are of the mineral grains and the intergrain relations determine the texture. By ...

- What is a Volcano? A volcano can be described as a mountain that leads to a pool of molten rock present below the surface of the earth. Upon building up of enough pressure, an eruption of the molten lava occurs. Eruptions can cause lava flows, hot ash flows, lateral blasts, avalanches, mudslides, falling ash, and floods. Tsunamis and earthquakes are also possible consequences of such volcanoes (Wicker). - Formation of Volcanoes When the magma from the Earth’s interiors erupts to form lava deposits and ash flows on the surface due to pressure, a volcano is said to have ...

The theory of plate tectonics describes the wide­scale movements of the lithosphere of

the earth. The model is based on the ideas of continental drift, which first gained acceptance in the early 1900s. The geoscientific community granted the theory even more validity after the notion of seafloor spreading appeared in the late 1950s. Basically, the lithosphere is not whole but instead is separated into either seven or eight major plates, depending on the definition that you use. Every meeting point between plates has its own relative movement, either transform, convergent or divergent. Volcanic activity, mountain creation and earthquakes all occur along these edges, and the plates ...

Depth of the Earth is mysterious and far less accessible world than the space surrounding our planet. There is no device yet that could penetrate the depths of the planet. The deepest mine in the world has a depth of 4 km whilst the deepest borehole in the Kola Peninsula - 12 km. It's only 1/500 part of the radius of the Earth! However, people have learned to "drop in" to the depths of the Earth. The main method of studying them is seismic (from the Greek. "Seysmos" - an earthquake). From earthquakes or artificial explosions in the bowels of ...

Earthquakes

Earthquakes produce vibrations that are recorded, detected and measured with the use of the seismographs. Seismographs amplify the ground motions by a million times more than the motions beneath making a zigzag transcribes that are known as the seismograms. This data is relevant for the determination of the focal depth of an earthquake the time and the epicenter of the phenomena. In addition, approximations can be complete with relative sizes and amounts of force it produced. The focus hypocenter of the earthquake is the origin of the fault where rapture initiates. The depth in kilometers and map locations in longitudes and ...

Introduction

Tectonic Plate refers to a massive, slab of solid rock that is irregularly shaped, and it is composed of both oceanic and continental lithosphere.

Definitions

Mid-Ocean Ridge refers to an underwater mountain range that forms due to plate tectonics. This structure is formed through two tectonic processes, ridge-push and slab pull that cause the spreading at mid-ocean ridges. Basin and Range topography refers to structure that is characterized by sudden changes in sloping and is alternating in between the narrow chains of faulted mountain and flat arid basins or valleys. They are formed by crustal extension or extensional tectonics. ...

The contribution of Alfred Wegener

William C. McCullough LAIS 370 History of Science Colorado School of Mines Abstract This paper discusses the role of Alfred Wegener in the discovery of the Plates tectonics theory. It is believed that the modern day plate tectonics theory is an advancement of continental drift theory which was discovered by Wegener. The study will seek to explore his efforts and contribution to modern science and how he has helped to shape the world.

Overview

Plate tectonics also known as continental drift theory describes that the earth was at one time many years back a super continent whereby ...

Continental drift is an idea developed by Alfred Wegner which states that the continents are drifting away across the ocean. He also suggested the plate tectonic theory in the year 1915. The theory states that, all continents were brought together into a mass land million of years ago. The key evidence presented in this case is that, African and South American continents fit each other perfectly if they can be enjoined. In addition, it has been evidenced that similar fossils are found in different continents which implies that, at one point in time they used to be together. The distribution ...

Educational institution

On May 18, 1980, after two months of grumbling, Mount St. Helens erupted and this blast profoundly changed the looks of the vast area around the volcano. This cataclysm, though being tremendously devastating: killing 57 people, flattering 230 square miles of forests and blowing 1,300 feet off the peak, provided the perfect background for studying the early stages of forest’s development as well as the process of eco system regeneration after such a vital act of devastation. Right after the eruption occurred, some areas got absolutely avoid of life; on the other parts some species survived, but in ...

Abstract

In this essay, it is presented a resumed description of the different volcano types that can be identified, according to the types of rock layers they leave behind after their erosion. The main types of volcanoes that can be identified are the stratovolcanoes, which leave behind layers of rock of different components, according to the eruption of pyroclastic nature, ash, water, or tephra; the shield volcanoes, that leave behind large layers of smooth basalt; the cinder, or scoria, cones that leave behind thick basaltic blocks, which can be interbedded with ash or cinder layers. Keywords: volcanoes, types, stratovolcanoes, ...

Global warming is a climate phenomenon, which is responsible for the increase in temperature of earth over the years. It is one of the issues that has kept environmentalists at toes because of the draconian effects it could have with respect to planet earth and human existence and survival. There are several reasons, which facilitate the increase in Global warming, both Natural and Man Made. Natural reasons for global warming, though, are hugely miniscule and insignificant when compared to the human causes of global warming. Natural causes of Global warming include Solar Output, Milankovitch Cycles, Water Vapor, Volcanic Eruptions ...

An aquifer is an aggregation of saturated rock that water passes through quite easily. They are both porous and permeable to water. They include rocks such as conglomerate, sandstone, fractured limestone and unconsolidated sand and gravel. Also, volcanic rocks that are fractured such as columnar basalts are good aquifers. In essence, some rocks with low porosity are poor aquifers. Examples of such rocks with low porosity include schist and granite. However, when schist and granite become fractured they become excellent aquifers. The boundaries of aquifers are usually graded into other aquifers, in essence, an aquifer could be a part of ...

Earthquakes are destructive natural phenomenon caused by tectonic activity occurring along plate edges and faults. They generally have a trail of destruction owning to the large areas affected, as well as the suddenness and unpredictability. The higher the magnitude of the earthquake on the Richter Scale, the greater the destruction it is likely to cause. Damages include the destruction of property, loss of life, disruptions in vital infrastructural services such as power and water supply, transportation and communications. Earthquakes can also have a major economic impact.

What is an Earthquake?

In simple terms, vibrations moving across the Earth’s crust, felt in the form of ...

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, USA

- Location: - Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA - 19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W - Elevation: 4,091 feet - Kilauea Volcano is a shield volcano and the result of the movement of the Pacific plate moving over a hotspot (Hawaiian hotspot). - History: Historically, Kilauea has been erupting for the past 300,000 – 600,000 years and has had at least 61 eruptions. The most recent eruption in in Kilauea's east rift zone has been erupting since 1983. It has been intermittently erupting since then and re-entered the sea ( ...

Introduction

A mudslide is a specific variant of a landslide, a term which describes “a wide variety of processes that result in the downward and outward movement of slope-forming materials including rock, soil, artificial fill, or a combination of these.”(Highland & Johnson, 2004). Of the different types of landslides described, the type known as “earthflow” includes the sub-category “mudflow” – the subject of this research paper. The following paragraphs will describe mudflows (or mudslides) and a number of the issues surrounding them.

The Research

Definition of Landslides and Mudslides. In the USGS factsheet originally produced by Highland & Johnson, it was stated that in a landslide, the movement of the displaced ...

In the last 20 years, film and video have emerged to be predominant forms of current story telling. However, before the emergence of video, photography was still there. For the last 100 years, storytelling and photography went hand in hand. Telling a story using photos usually takes more than a skillful photographer. Therefore, only photographers who are skillful, and understand concepts and emotions behind ever-great story can develop a photo story that has more impact. In simple terms, a photo essay is a collection of pictures, which are placed in a particular order to narrate the progression of emotions, concepts, and events. Each human being ...

Introduction

In this essay, a research took place about the following topics, which are meant to be clarified: geographic evidence as support of the theory of continental drift, scientifical acceptance of the movement of continents, the process of the scientific method and theory development, the scientific method help in understanding the natural world, association between the plate tectonics, continental drift and natural landforms. With these topics addressed, in this essay, the understanding of the natural world should become clearer, adding new knowledge on the matter, which should complement the one acquired al throughout the course. - Geographic evidence collected ...

The pacific ring of fire is known as a home of repeated earthquakes as well as for a huge number of volcanic explosions. This 40000 kilometer landscape has almost 75 % of the active and inactive volcanoes of this planet. 80 to 90 % earthquakes of the earth takes place in this region alone which makes it one of most seismic and turbulent terrains of the world. This paper intends to discuss the pacific ring of fire and several other related aspects along with discussing the hazards or disasters that it has caused. The pacific ring of fire is in a horseshoe shape ...

The Igneous rocks, also referred as Plutonic rocks are one of the main rock types apart from metamorphic and sedimentary. These rocks can be formed either by intrusive or extrusive process depending on the location on the earth’s surface. The cooling and crystallization of magma (melted rock) inside the ground or above the ground creates the igneous rocks. Eruption of volcanoes also causes the formation of Igneous Rocks when the magma intensifies above the surface of the earth. The magma that rises above the surface is referred as Lava and the igneous rocks form when the lava solidifies. ...