Large Volcanic eruptions.
Part A: Historically recent eruptions.
An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
Credit: Public domain
Notable volcanic eruptions over the past 200 years include Mt Pinatubo(1991),
Krakotoa (1883), and Tambura (1815). If your last name begins with the letter AH you are assigned Mt Pinatubo (1991), I-P you are assigned Krakatoa (1883), and
Q-Z you are assigned Mt Tambora (1815). Bring two copies of your written
summaries to class on April 2, 2015, one to turn in and one for you to use as a
reference. Either submit online by April 1 (Wed) or bring to class and turn in at
the beginning of class April 2.
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Learning Objectives:
 Students will identify and explain important climatic and societal features of
a significant volcanic eruption .
 Students will independently research two post-1800 volcanic eruption events
and summarize their finding.
 Students will exhibit their collaboration skills to develop an executive
summary outline of a significant volcanic eruption.
Research your eruption event and summarize your findings (A minimum of 250
word and 2 graphs or figures). Be prepared to discuss your summary in class.
Your summary should include:
Date of the eruption, geographic location of the event, total eruption volume or
mass, a qualitative estimate of sulfur content , an estimate of its influence on
global and regional temperatures, specific societal impacts including economic,
effect on public policy, human health and mortality. Finally, try to find an art piece
that was inspired by the event: paintings, drawings, poems, books, movies, or
music.
Find one additional post 1880 eruption event, that is not one of the three listed
above, to research and summarize. Identify the name of the event and explain why
you chose this event as noteworthy. Your 150+ word summary should include:
Date of the eruption, geographic location of the event, total eruption volume or
mass, a qualitative estimate of sulfur content , an estimate of its influence on
global and regional temperatures (see data presented in unit 1 and 2 or 3), specific
societal impacts including economic, effect on public policy, human health and
mortality. Finally, describe why you chose this event as a noteworthy event for our
class discussion.
Your research should include at least four references. At least one of these must
come from a scientific journal*.
Bring 2 copies of your summaries to class, one to submit and one to use for an inclass discussion. You will team up with other students to create a master bullet
point outline to share in class. Please see the rubric for this assignment on page 4.
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Reference citation quidelines:
For Journals or magazine articles references should include:
Author, publication date, Title of article, Journal name, volume,
number, and page number.
For books the reference should include:
Author, Title of book, Chapter, page number(s), publisher with city,
publication date
For World Wide Web sites the reference should include:
Title, author, affiliation, and complete URL address.
*Examples of Acceptable Journals
Nature
Science
Journal of Climate
Journal of Geophysical Research
Geophysical Research Letters
American Geophysical Union EOS
Bulletin of the American Meteorology Society
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Rubric: Unit 6 (Volcanoes) PartA
(created from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ )
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3
2
1
Organization
Information is very
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs and
subheadings.
Information is
organized with wellconstructed
paragraphs.
Information is
organized, but
paragraphs are not
well-constructed.
The information
appears to be
disorganized. 8)
Amount of
Information
All topics are
addressed and all
questions answered
with at least 2
sentences about
each.
All topics are
addressed and most
questions answered
with at least 2
sentences about
each.
All topics are
One or more topics
addressed, and most were not addressed.
questions answered
with 1 sentence
about each.
Quality of
Information
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It includes
several supporting
details and/or
examples.
Information clearly
relates to the main
topic. It provides 1-2
supporting details
and/or examples.
Information clearly
Information has little
relates to the main
or nothing to do with
topic. No details
the main topic.
and/or examples are
given.
Mechanics
No grammatical,
spelling or
punctuation errors.
Achieved word
count.
Almost no
grammatical, spelling
or punctuation
errors.
Achieved word
count.
A few grammatical
spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Less than stated
word count.
Many grammatical,
spelling, or
punctuation errors.
Less than stated
word count.
Sources
All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented in the
desired format.
All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented, but a
few are not in the
desired format.
All sources
(information and
graphics) are
accurately
documented, but
many are not in the
desired format.
Some sources are
not accurately
documented.
CATEGORY
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