2.1 Volcanoes

2. Imagine that you live in an area where volcanic eruptions occur. Draw up a list of emergency measures that should be applied before, during and after a volcanic eruption.

3. Collect newspaper articles on any recent volcanic eruption. Discuss it in class and name the consequences thereof.

4. What kind of aid was offered to these people by the rest of the world? Could more have been done?

an interesting fact

The enormous power that exists within the earth is frightening when you think of the death and destruction that is caused when it is revealed.

But it may be possible to think of it in a positive way: We can strive to learn to harness this power to make life on earth more comfortable. Perhaps ways of taming such power and applying it to produce electricity may be found. Think of the impact that such a source of energy will have!

A website like the following has interesting information about volcanoes in store:

(External Link)

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity:

2. Trace the world map in Figure 4 and indicate the zones where earthquakes occur, in red.

3. Yes, they occur in the same areas where there are volcanoes.

Earthquakes and volcanoes go hand in hand and are found on the periphery of the plates of the earth’s crust – there where the plates move slowly to or from one another. These movements cause earthquakes and/or volcanic eruptions.

Activity 2:

1. a) People

• Lava devours houses and cities or causes them to crumble.
• People are engulfed by the lava.
• People are smothered by the sulphurous gases and ash rain.
• People drown as a result of tsunamis that develop and flood low-lying land.

b) The environment

• The natural environment is destroyed completely, or changed by a volcano.
• Rocks and ash that have been flung into the atmosphere, causes pollution.
• Lava covers fertile valleys and destroys all the vegetation.
• Red-hot streams of mud engulf cities and people.
• Tsunamis develop in the open sea and flood low-lying land or islands.
• New islands are formed by volcanoes under the sea.
• The natural environment is transformed. Igneous rock is formed and eventually, over millions of years fertile soil is formed for food production.
• Precious stones such as diamonds are formed in igneous rock which has financial implications for a country.
• Hot water springs occur near volcanoes and become tourist attractions. The warm water is also applied to heat buildings.

1. Learners collect pictures, photos and newspaper clippings of volcanoes and bring them to the class for discussion.

Activity 3:

1. People make an actual decision to live close to a volcano.

Economic considerations such as the availability of jobs and financial prosperity are often more important than the potential danger of living close to a volcano.

2. a) Before a volcano erupts:

Volcanoes are monitored by seismographs and warnings are issued.

Areas should be vacated if early signs are observed.

People living in such areas must ensure that they always have emergency supplies at hand.

b) During a volcanic eruption:

People must leave the area immediately.

Always listen to news broadcasts to follow the course of events.

Wear gas masks as prevention against sulphurous gases.

c) After a volcanic eruption:

Cleaning up operations must take place in the area and relief funding must be supplied by first world countries.

3. Collect newspaper clippings on any recent volcanic eruption and discuss it in class.

4. First world countries supply financial aid after such a disaster.

They also dispatch emergency teams to help with clearing up operations, medical services and food supplies.