Mount Pinatubo and the
Lithosphere (Geosphere)
Connecting Volcanic Eruptions to all Earth Spheres
Mount Pinatubo and Earth’s Spheres
Project
You will examine the event-to-sphere and
sphere-to-sphere interactions in relation to the
1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines.
– They address concepts such as: volcanism, plate
tectonics, subduction, global climate effects
(temperature and aerosols), mud slides and risk
mitigation.
– Activities include: use of Google Earth, tracking
ash plumes on a map, reading topographic maps,
tree ring analysis, practice at reading qualitative
data, and graph interpretation.
Mt. Pinatubo Eruption
Create a DEJ with the focus questions and room for evidence
FOCUS QUESTIONS
• Describe some of the
phenomena that occur in
the aftermath of a
volcanic eruption.
• What impacts do these
phenomena have on
humans?
• How can the communities
surrounding Mt. Pinatubo
protect themselves from
the effects of future
eruptions?
EVIDENCE
Exit Slip
What effects of a volcanic
eruption on humans and
the environment are a
surprise to you?
Explain your response.
Bell Ringer
• Review your responses to the questions on
your DEJ from the video on Friday.
• Which questions are you still lacking evidence
for?
• Video of Mt. Pinatubo Eruption: Clark Air
Base, Phillipines Part 2
• Video of Mt. Pinatubo Eruption: Clark Air
Base, Phillipines Part 3
Video Reflection
After watching the video, what
affects of a volcanic eruption on
humans and the environment
are a surprise to you?
Explain your answer using
evidence from the video.
Background Reading
• Open your email and download the file:
– Mt. Pinatubo and the Lithosphere Student Guide
• In pairs, read the Mt. Pinatubo and the
Lithosphere Background reading, pages 1-2.
– Take turns reading each paragraph.
– Analyze the images on page 2.
• Working together with your group
– Answer the Review questions on separate paper
from page 2.
Bell Ringer:
EventSphere Interactions
On the handout, read the
directions from the page 3 side
and complete the section titled
EventSphere Interactions
using evidence from the
background reading (pages 1-2).
Before Reading
• Discuss review questions, page 4 and page 6
• Page 4:
1. Do you agree with the idea that volcanoes should usually
be considered constructive? Explain your thinking.
2. How are new landforms created?
3. Think for a minute. Why would people choose to live in an
area of volcanic activity?
• Page 6:
1. Where do volcanoes normally exist?
2. Think of an analogy for plate convergence. Explain it.
Include an illustration that helps.
3. Which part of a boiled egg is the mantle?
4. Explain how volcanoes are linked to the carbon cycle.
During Reading
• Paired Reading –
• Student 1: page 4
• Student 2: pages 5 – 6
that will
help answer the review questions.
• Make a note of which page and paragraph the
evidence can be found in.
After Reading
• Before answering questions, each student will
share two important pieces of evidence with
their partner from their assigned reading and
show them where to find the evidence (page and
paragraph number)
• Working together, complete the review
questions using complete sentences in your
notebook.
• Add additional evidence to the SphereSphere
section of the handout (page 3)
Bell Ringer
• Find your assigned iPad.
– (ask me if you forgot your number)
• Open the file from yesterday (Mt. Pinatubo and
the Lithosphere Student Guide)
– (check Safari)
– (ask me for help if it is not on your iPad)
• You have 5 minutes to finish the
review questions from yesterday
(page 4 and page 6)
7 minutes – working in groups
• Add evidence from the readings and your
review question responses to the
SphereSphere section of the handout
– (page 3)
Activity: Mapping the Plates
• Read the directions on the back (Earth side) of
the handout with your group.
• Use the image on page 5 as a guide
• Trace the bold black boundary lines 1st
• Mark the tectonic plate lines using three
different colored highlighters or markers
– convergence,
– divergence, and
– transformation.
Bell Ringer
• Apply the following new terms to the different
plate tectonic movements:
– Divergent Plate Boundary
– Convergent Plate Boundary
– Transformation Plate Boundary
OR
Google Earth Activity
• Teacher models
• Open the file: Volcanoes of the World ALL
VOLCANOES from your email
• Complete the four questions at the bottom of
page 8 of the student guide on separate paper
Continue Google Earth Activity
• Find your assigned iPad as you enter
• Open the appropriate programs:
– Volcanoes of the World ALL VOLCANOES
– Mt. Pinatubo and the Lithosphere Student Guide
• Complete the four questions at the bottom of
page 8 of the student guide on separate
paper
Mt. Pinatubo and the Lithosphere Quiz
1. Of the following Sphere  Sphere interactions,
choose two interactions and provide a specific
example for each using evidence from your readings.
LITHOSPHERE → ATMOSPHERE
BIOSPHERE  LITHOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE  BIOSPHERE
LITHOSPHERE → HYDROSPHERE
HYDROSPHERE → ATMOSPHERE
BIOSPHERE → HYDROSPHERE
2. Provide evidence for whether you feel volcanoes
are constructive or destructive.
3. Where do volcanoes normally exist? Be specific.
4. Explain the differences between the terms:
convergent, divergent, and transformation.
In the search box, locate the five volcanoes
below. Each of these volcanoes erupted
cataclysmically within the last 200 years. The
eruptions spewed so much material into the
atmosphere that the entire globe was cooled by
a degree or two for several years.
– Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines
– Tambora, Indonesia
– Krakatoa, Indonesia
– Mt. St. Helens, Washington
– Mt. Katmai, Alaska
Volcano
• Mt. Pinatubo,
Phillipines
• Tambora, Indonesia
• Krakatoa, Indonesia
• Mt. St. Helens,
Washington
• Mt. Katmai, Alaska
What scientific process
caused this volcano to
become to dangerous?
Synthesizing Observations
Use what you have learned to write one
paragraph
to
a
person
lessknowledgeable than yourself. Explain
what scientific processes caused these
five volcanoes to become so dangerous.
Refer to the previously read articles for specific
evidence.
NOTE: You may now want to your Event-to-Sphere and
Sphere-to-Sphere worksheet.
Use what you have learned to write one paragraph to a person
less-knowledgeable than yourself. Explain what scientific processes
caused these five volcanoes to become so dangerous.
There were five major volcanic eruptions that
occurred within the past 200 years. These
volcanic eruptions were caused by _________.
Bell Ringer
What is the
difference between
qualitative and
quantitative data?
Qualitative Data Analysis
For this activity, you will learn to make use of
qualitative data to draw conclusions. Other than
earthquakes or ash cloud heights, you want to answer
the question:
“How did the quality of
everything around the volcano
change as a result of the
eruption?”
Use your observations to generate a logical and wellinformed answer to the focus question.
* Introduce the topic by restating the focus question
* Provide specific evidence for above and below ground,
before and after the eruption
* Conclude your qualitative data analysis by answering
the focus question
“How did the quality of
everything around the volcano
change as a result of the
eruption?”