Name:
Class:
ACTIVE EARTH
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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A. Introduction and terminology: There are no active volcanoes in Hong Kong today, although we
do experience occasional small earthquakes. In other countries, some quite close to HK, the
natural hazards of volcanoes and earthquakes regularly affect millions of people. First, let’s find
out what you already know about earthquakes and volcanoes and what would you like to learn
during this unit?
1.
What I know already
What I would like to know
2. Compare your lists with others in the class. Maybe you could add some questions?
In this topic we will find the answers to these questions:



Where do earthquakes and volcanoes occur and why do they happen?
What is the link between earthquakes and volcanoes?
What can be done to reduce their effects?
Apart from your text book, many web sites have excellent material. Some of the better ones are:
http://volcano.und.edu/
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/bytopic/
http://geology.about.com/science/geology/cs/volcanoes/index.htm
http://geology.about.com/science/geology/cs/earthquakes/index.htm
http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/html_files/gsaslide/Index.html
http://www.wwnorton.com/earth/egeo/index/animations.htm
3. There will be a number of new terms in this topic. Watch the Powerpoint “Glossary” and see
whether you can complete the crossword on the following page. You could also see:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Products/Pglossary/pglossary.html which is a photo glossary.
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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EclipseCrossword.com
Across
1.
3.
6.
7.
8.
10.
11.
What happens when 2 plates meet and one goes under the other. (10)
The place on the ground directly above the focus of an earthquake. (9)
A flow of hot ash, gas and lava. (11)
The point under the ground where the earthquake starts. (5)
An instrument which measures the strength of earthquakes. (11)
Molten rock above the surface of the Earth. (4)
Molten rock below the surface of the Earth. (5)
Down
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
9.
The solid outer layer of the Earth. (5)
The shaking of the Earth's crust caused by an earthquake (12)
The movements of plates, forming the Earth's major features. (9)
Energy from hot rocks under the ground. (10)
A large piece of the Earth's crust. (5)
The layer of the Earth beneath the crust. (6)
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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B. Volcanoes:
1. Study the terms and definitions below. Match them with an arrow, like the one that is done for you.
Lava bombs
small volcano on the side of the main one
Lava flow
cloud of ash thrown out of the volcano
Magma chamber
store of magma beneath the volcano
Vent
lumps of solid lava thrown into the air
Ash cloud
the circular opening at the top of the volcano
Secondary cone
liquid rock on the surface
Crater
the tube up which the magma escapes to the surface
2. When you have checked them, write the terms (not meanings) onto diagram A next to a number:
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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3. Diagram B shows the development of a volcano. Use the sketches to describe what is happening and
to explain how the typical cone-shaped volcano is formed over a long period of time.
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C.
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1. Using the previous diagram, read through this passage and cross out the words which are incorrect:
The Earth is made up of four / five main layers. The outer layer is the core / crust. This layer is broken into
pieces called magma / plates. The main land masses are made of oceanic / continental crust. This part of the
crust is an average of 5 / 35 km thick. The ocean floor is made of oceanic crust which is much thinner /
thicker than the continental crust. It is covered by a thin layer of sediments / lava.
2 a) How thick is the oceanic crust?
b) Where is the crust thickest?
c) Which layer does the magma that feeds volcanoes come from?
3 a) Which is the hottest part of the Earth?
b) How hot is the mantle?
c) Why is the upper part of the mantle described as plastic?
D. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo, 1991:
(Read pp18 and 19 in the textbook)
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/southeast_asia/philippines/pinatubo.html
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Philippines/Pinatubo/framework.html
1. Describe the location of Mount Pinatubo:
2. Answer question 2 from p19:
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Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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3. Read question 3, p19 and think of your answer. You may then watch a video of the actual situation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinatubo
4. Read p 20 and discuss the answers to questions 1a, b and c with your neighbour.
Read p21 and answer questions 2 and 3.
2a. The ash travelled _____________ .
2b. The ash covered an area of approximately ________ km².
1. Effects on local people
Effects on the environment
5. Extension: Pinatubo sheet on the next page.
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E. Where do we find Volcanoes?
We locate places on the Earth’s surface using latitude and longitude. Lines of latitude are drawn parallel to
the equator and tell us how far north or south a place is. Lines of longitude all pass through the North and
South Pole and tell us how far east or west of the Greenwich Meridian a place is.
1. Read p22 and answer question 1b:
57°N 152°W = _____________ , 6°S 105°E = ______________ , 4°S 152°E = ________________ .
2. Using map A give the latitude and longitude of:
i. Mauna Loa
______________
iii. Mt St Helens ______________
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
ii. Cotopaxi ______________
iv. Fuji
______________
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(Sheet 2.3 tasks)
2.
3.
4. After discussions with your teacher, and maybe watching some videos, you should now be able to say
where volcanoes occur and why? http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/understanding.html may help?
5. Read p23 and answer questions 3, 4 and 5.
Extension: Use web sites to find more about types of volcanoes, eruptions or geothermal energy.
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F. Earth’s crustal jigsaw
1. Read p24 and answer question 1. For a) look at Iceland, between Europe and North America.
a. The
b. The
c. The
d. Earthquakes
2. Have a look at some of these if you can:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/ = recent quakes
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/index/animations.htm = animations of
boundaries
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/bytopic/ = how earthquakes happen
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4126809.stm = why does the earth move? A
guide to the origin of earthquakes.
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3. a. Study diagrams A-D and then match the correct halves of these sentences:
Ocean ridges form where
Fold mountains form where
Transform faults cause
When oceanic crust melts
magma rises to form volcanoes.
earthquakes when plates suddenly move sideways.
two plates move apart.
two continents collide.
b. Add the name of an actual place where each type of plate boundary is found onto the relevant
diagram.
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G. Earthquakes:
Measuring the effect of an earthquake (see next page):
1 Cartoon B =
Cartoon C =
2. The Alaskan earthquake was about
2
2. Below:
on the Mercalli Scale.
3. The proper name for
Question 5 is an extra task that your teacher may ask you to do as an actual letter.
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Read p25 and answer questions 2-4:
2 a) Bombay =
km
Bangalore =
km
b) The earthquake
3
4
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How many earthquakes occur globally?
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Description
Magnitude Frequency per year
Great
8.0+
1
Major
7.0-7.9
18
Large (destructive)
6.0-6.9
120
Moderate (damaging)
5.0-5.9
1,000
Minor (damage slight)
4.0-4.0
6,000
Generally felt
3.0-3.9
49,000
Potentially perceptible
2.0-2.9
300,000
Imperceptible
less than 2.0
600,000+
H. Surviving an earthquake:
1. Read pp26 & 27.
2. Brainstorm responses to these questions in a group:
a. What is it about the earthquake itself that makes some earthquakes more dangerous than others?
b. What is it about the location that makes some earthquakes more dangerous than others?
c. What are the hazards faced by people in an earthquake?
d. What can be done to reduce the risks?
3. Imagine that Hong Kong is an active earthquake zone. Your group has been asked to produce an
Earthquake Response Plan for the government. Your plan should include:




A risk assessment map, showing which urban centres in HK you think would suffer high, medium or
low damage in an earthquake. You should explain how you made these judgements.
A list of recommended items for an Earthquake Emergency Kit for each HK home to have. Some
items could be essential and some optional?
A poster or leaflet giving advice on what to do before, during and after an earthquake. Make this as
clear, informative and attractive as possible.
Any others ideas or proposals that you think would be helpful in reducing the threat of an
earthquake.
Remember that your plan should relate specifically to Hong Kong as much as possible.
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a. Find these 20 volcanoes in the word search above:
EREBUS
KRAKATOA
MAYON
FUJI
KATMAI
VULCANO
MOUNT ST HELENS
MONT PELEE
TRISTAN DA CUNHA
MAUNA LOA
HEKLA
KILAUEA
VESUVIUS
KILIMANJARO
MOUNT KENYA
POPOCATEPETL
COTOPAXI
ETNA
STROMBOLI
PARICUTIN
b. The remaining letters spell out a message. Write and complete the message.
EXTRAS:
 Volcano model
 Sheets 2.4 and 2.7
 Produce a game based on this topic, eg snakes and ladders?
 Make your own list of facts etc on earthquakes and volcanoes
HOMEWORK: Revise for end of unit test. You will need to:
 Be familiar with the terminology used in the topic
 Be able to use latitude and longitude to locate places
 Know why earthquakes and volcanoes occur where they do
 Know the different types of plate boundaries and the processes and features associated with them
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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BBC NEWS, ASIA_PACIFIC Friday, 23 May 2008
Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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Sha Tin College Geography Department Year 9
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