Mt. Pinatubo Module: Cycle A Group
5 February 2010
Group 1
Ashley George
Kayla Abrott
Abigail Grove
Taylor Delph
James Cannariato
PBL Step 1: Read and analyze the scenario and situation.
Your team of Earth Scientists has been asked to study the climatic changes brought about
by volcanoes. Do volcanoes alter the Earth's climate? If so, for how long and exactly what is
causing these changes? Is there some lesson here that can suggest a geo-engineering
solution as a fix for global climate warming?
PBL Step 2: List personal understanding, ideas, or hunches.
Abigail
E > B All living things would suffer drastically from such an explosion, and the effects of the
eruption could last for many years.
E > H Volcano eruptions have the potential to set off tsunamis in large bodies of water that
are near the active volcano.
E > L Volcano eruptions have the potential to cause earthquakes.
E > L > B Volcano eruptions cause mudslides, rockslides, which could cause the plants and
animals to die from the onset of thick volcanic ash, lava flow, mudslides and rockslides.
E > L > H Volcano eruptions can cause earthquakes, which can cause tsunamis.
E > A > H > L > B The volcanic ash would somehow affect the atmosphere, causing heavy
rains to wash the ash and rock down off the mountain into valleys and nearby towns,
potentially harming civilians, plant life and animal life.
Ashley
Volcanic eruptions can be extremely unpredictable and are therefore hard to plan for. Since
they cause so much destruction, this is a very bad thing. Homeowners that live within a
certain distance from an active volcano usually get insurance to cover the costs of damages
should the volcano erupt and reach their home. Volcanoes have an effect on all of the
spheres of the earth. When a volcano explodes, it sends ash and gases into the atmosphere.
This includes carbon dioxide, sulfur, water vapor, and sulfuric compounds. The gases reach
both the lower atmosphere and the upper stratosphere. They remain in the lower part for
only a few days but can stay in the stratosphere for several weeks or months. If there a lot
of volcanic eruptions near the same time, there can be an excess of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, which creates a slight warming. The excess of other particles in the
atmosphere can also block out sunspots, which could cause cooling. Volcanoes affect the
lithosphere by shifting the earth’s tectonic plates. This, in turn, can cause ocean currents to
change, effecting temperature. The sediments from the volcanic ash and material ends up
in surrounding bodies of water and can be detrimental to plant life, wild life, and fish by
creating high acidity levels and poisonous elements. Volcanoes affect the hydrosphere by
creating tsunamis, which can destroy entire cities. The affect of volcanoes on the biosphere
is more obvious. The flowing lava/magma will of course kill wild animals that can’t get out
of the area, destroy homes, and cause human casualty. The gases and ash sediments kill
vegetation, causing famine, which will also affect the biosphere.
I know that volcanoes can be marked as dormant and that there are several different types
of volcanoes. Near the Hawaiian Islands, there is a chain of volcanoes called the Ring of
Fire. Volcanoes are located all over the earth.
E>A: The CO2 released into the atmosphere can cause temperature warming.
E>A: The sulfur and sulfuric compounds released into the atmosphere can cause
temperature cooling.
E>L>H: The volcanic eruption caused a shift in tectonic plates, which in turn causes the
ocean currents to change and affect temperature.
E>H>B: Volcanic eruptions can cause huge tsunamis, which can destroy homes and cause
casualty.
E>B: Volcanic gases and ash sediments kill vegetation and ruin fertile soil, which can cause
famine.
E>H>B: Sediments end up in bodies of water and can be dangerous to the fish in the water
and the wildlife that drinks the water.
Kayla
 When volcanoes erupt, large amounts of sulfur dioxide are released into the air,
creating a haze, which can block radiation from the sun coming to Earth. (E>A)
 The Mount Pinatubo eruption had an immediate impact of spreading volcanic rock
and ash one cubic mile around the volcano.
 Lava, volcanic ash, and rocks can run off into streams, lakes, and other bodies of
water and disrupt or contaminate its natural behavior. (E>H)
 If there is wind present, then ash and sulfur dioxide could be carried farther from
the site of eruption. (A>E)
 Extremely hot temperatures can cause moisture to rise, form clouds, and bring lots
of rain, leading to a further spread of debris. (A>E>L)
 When there is an increased amount of volcanic activity, this can cause the world’s
temperatures to drop. (E>A)
Taylor
1. Volcanoes are formed along tectonic plate borders. When tectonic plates converge
and push together, volcanoes are erected.
2. Volcano’s ash is very harmful to the delicate state of surrounding habitat
3. There are different types of eruptions. Some are more subtle and low key, however
some are monstrously explosives like Mt. St. Helen’s (which is why there are many
hardcore rock bands named after that eruption).
4. The actual explosion may not be as devastating as the aftermath of runoff and acidic
ash.
5. Hardened lava creates a unique environment in which an ecosystem completely
starts over.
6. Volcanoes play an important part in formation of new lithosphere
7. Portal between earth’s core and upper lithosphere
8. Volcanoes spew ash, gases, and lava
9. Wind carries ash very far, even to places halfway around the world
10. Volcanoes’ aerosol gases cause global cooling.
11. Some benefits might be the formation of new land. If there is global warming and
the oceans continue to cover more and more of the earth’s surface, and land masses
continue to decrease in size, then the formation of new land could be a beneficial
balance to this cycle. Also, the seeming ‘destruction’ and starting from ground zero
could be beneficial if certain ecosystems are diseased and ‘corrupt.’ A new start will
be like restarting a flawed drawing on a clean sheet of paper.
12. I would imagine ash in bodies of water would kill plants and animals that live in
them, as well as harm the animals that drink from them. It also would cause them to
fill up with sediments faster, and thus speed their aging process.
13. I remember vaguely learning about how over time plants and water wear down the
hardened lava and eventually plants start to take root and break down the rock even
more. This might possibly have been how the beginning of earth looked like. A
whole bunch of hardened lava masses slowly being broken down by plants and
water.
14. Humans can continue to study volcanoes and learn more to predict when volcanoes
will erupt and how they will erupt. We can evacuate areas in danger of the eruption.
We can also incorporate better ventilation and air filtering in buildings to protect
people from ash and other harmful suspended matter from volcanoes. We can also
improve water purification systems and develop technology that rids water of
chemicals from volcanoes. Also, in case of extreme global cooling, we must develop
and improve greenhouses that can support essential food products to feed our
world.
James
Mt. Pinatubo was a volcano in the Philippines that erupted in the early 1990’s. It was a
massive eruption that altered the global climate for years after the event. Massive amounts
of ash, smoke, and other stuff poured into the atmosphere. Aerosols were released into the
upper atmosphere, which reflected the sunlight coming to earth back into space. This
reflection caused the temperature to drop slightly in the atmosphere. 800 people died from
the pyroclastic blast that rocketed down the side of the mountain. Animals were killed,
along with the surrounding vegetation. Volcanoes occur where the crusts meet and push up
against each other. The cracks in the crust allow the pressure from the magma to escape via
eruption.
E>A the blast sends aerosols into the atmosphere, leading to a decrease in the global
temperature
E>B Blast sends pyroclastic blast down the side of the mountain, killing the surrounding
vegetation and wildlife.
E>H The blast polluted the surrounding water, making it unsafe to drink.
PBL Step 3: Our ESS Analysis
Ashley
E>A: The CO2 released into the atmosphere can cause temperature warming.
E>A: The sulfur and sulfuric compounds released into the atmosphere can cause
temperature cooling.
E>L>H: The volcanic eruption caused a shift in tectonic plates, which in turn causes the
ocean currents to change and affect temperature.
E>H>B: Volcanic eruptions can cause huge tsunamis, which can destroy homes and cause
casualty.
E>B: Volcanic gases and ash sediments kill vegetation and ruin fertile soil, which can cause
famine.
E>H>B: Sediments end up in bodies of water and can be dangerous to the fish in the water
and the wildlife that drinks the water.
When fossil fuels are burned, haze particles are produced in the atmosphere. These
particles, also known as aerosol particles, can both reflect and absorb sunlight, causing
abnormal changes in the atmosphere.
Clouds are made up of small droplets, as water condenses on tiny particles. Pollution such
as haze can change the particles within clouds. Once haze particles enter clouds, they
increase the number of cloud droplets. The haze creates more opportunity for water to
condense around these particles. These clouds contain more, smaller sized droplets. This
interaction is important because clouds with a larger number of droplets, reflect more
sunlight.
One of the main effects of haze is a reduction in evaporation. This causes changes in
precipitation for the region directly below the concentrated haze and adjacent areas. A
2002 study by the American Meteorological Society, focusing on the effects of haze on the
South Asian monsoon, found the effects on evaporation to be rather large. Haze affected
areas experienced increased precipitation. In result, as evaporation over the ocean was
suppressed, this led to decreased concentration of precipitation in all other areas.
Abby
The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring process that aids in heating the Earth's
surface and atmosphere with water vapors. It has been particularly evident since 1980.
L >A
Some atmospheric gases absorb long wave radiation from the Earth’s surface.
A>B
Life on earth would be nonexistent without the greenhouse effect (-18 degrees Celsius
instead of 15 degrees Celsius as it is now)
“However, it is theorized that manmade perturbations to the greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide may be causing global warming.”
http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/glossary.php?&word=ALL
A > E Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, N2O, and CFCs) allow short wavelength
radiation from the sun (UV and visible light) and contribute to the greenhouse effect by
penetrating through the lower atmosphere and reaching the earth’s surface.
Greenhouse gases also can absorb long wavelength radiation or infrared rays which are
then reradiated back into space from the earth. This infrared heat energy is trapped in
space by these gases. This results in global warming. “Global warming has been evident
since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Most scientists attribute global warming to
the release of greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels”.
E (volcano eruption) > A When volcanoes erupt, carbon dioxide is added to the
atmosphere, and this can result in enhancing global warming.
The haze effect, or global cooling (eruption-generated particles in the stratosphere),
happens more than global warming by generated greenhouse gases. Mt. Pinatubo produced
more of a global cooling effect, so greenhouse warming wasn’t as pronounced as it could
have been during its eruption.
(http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Home.html).
A>H>L>B
The sun warms the planet, emitting infrared radiation, creating heat. Water vapor in the
earth’s atmosphere strongly absorbs some infrared rays from the earth’s soil, rocks,
oceans, and cities. Result: the earth remains warm and life on earth continues to exist.
H > A Some clouds (cumulous) form as a result of the water vapor and help control the
earth’s temperature.
http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/P18.html
Kayla
A>B
The ozone layer of the atmosphere absorbs specific wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation, and
prevents most of this harmful radiation from reaching the ground.
Ozone depletion has resulted in a greater penetration of ultraviolet radiation on the earth’s
surface, which is harmful to life on earth because it damages cellular DNA.
E>A
Symonds, Rose, Bluth, and Gerlach concluded that stratospheric injection of sulfur dioxide is the
principal atmospheric and global impact of volcanic eruptions. Sulfur dioxide converts to
sulfuric acid aerosols that block incoming solar radiation, which can cause global cooling.
Hydrogen chloride released by volcanoes can cause drastic reductions in ozone if concentrations
reach high levels. Chlorine is often released during low-levels of volcanic activity and may be
limited to the troposphere, where it can be scrubbed out by rain. However, there were no
observations of increase in stratospheric chlorine during the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.
Volcanic gases do not play a direct role in destroying ozone they may play a harmful indirect
role. Scientists have found that aerosols produced by large volcanic eruptions accelerate ozone
destruction by providing a surface upon which chemical reactions can take place, enhancing
chlorine-driven ozone depletion. These effects from volcanoes are short lived and will settle out
of the atmosphere after two or three years. Study of ozone amounts before and after the 1991
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo show the decrease by some 33% compared to pre-eruption amounts.
B>A
About 82% of stratospheric chlorine comes from man-made sources, mostly in the form of
chlorofluorocarbons. These gases never leave the troposphere (where 10% of the ozone is
located).
Recently an ozone hole has been detected in the stratosphere over Antarctica, presumably due to
the ozone destroying chlorofluorocarbons gases by humans.
E>A>H>L>B
Robock and Mao found warming over Eurasia and North America and cooling over the
Middle East and northern Africa during the winters after the 12 largest volcanic eruptions
from 1883-1992. They proposed that heating of the tropical stratosphere by the volcanic
aerosols led to enhanced zonal winds. Zonal winds heated some areas while blocking of
solar radiation cooled other areas.
James
E>B: Volcanoes releases molten magma from inside the earth’s crust, which turns into lava.
Lava can be as hot as 2000° F. Temperatures this hot will obliterate all forms of life that it comes
into contact with, including plants, animals, and humans.
E>L: As the lava cools, it hardens in place, augmenting the surface of the lithosphere. Over
time, this can create mountain ranges, or islands (Ex: Hawaii).
E>B: Soil that was originally volcanic is some of the most fertile soil in the earth. Over time,
as it the area becomes more hospitable to plant life, the plants flourish with the new abundance
of nutrients.
E>A: The eruption sends tons of poisonous gases and sulfur into the atmosphere, causing the
air to be polluted. This can happen through chemicals infecting those that it comes into contact
with, or through the large amounts of ash that settle on the surrounding countryside.
E.>B: Pyroclastic Flows, released from the mouth of the volcanoes, travel down the face of the
volcanoes at extremely high speeds and destroy everything in its path. Pyroclastic flows are
heavy mixtures of gas and rocks and sulfur that don’t reach temperatures hot enough to rise up
into the air. Consequently, they float above the ground and race down the surface of the volcano.
E>A: Strong explosive volcanic eruptions, inject millions of ton of sulfur dioxide gas at the
altitudes of about 15 miles where it interacts with water vapor producing a volcanic aerosol layer
that consists of tiny droplets of highly concentrated sulfuric acid. As a result of the Pinatubo
eruption, globally averaged surface temperature decreased by about 0.3 Kelvin (0.3 Celsius) for
two years after the eruption and the temperature in the tropical lower stratosphere increased by
about 2-3 Kelvin (2-3 Celsius). Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
E>A: Volcano’s extremely hot air mixes with the cold air around it to create lightening storms.
http://www.Google.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0306aopin.html
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/pompeii/interactive/interactive.html
Taylor
(E>A) When eruptions occur, large quantities of ash are released into the atmosphere,
blocking the sun’s rays and polluting the air.
(E>H) Eruptions have potential to trigger tsunamis.
(A>H) The ash emitted into the air makes its way across the globe due to winds. It lands in
various bodies of water along the way including rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans.
(H>B) The ash content is harmful to the bodies of water and the species that live in them or
use the water.
(H>L) Rain and bodies of water distribute ash and dissolved gases across the lithosphere.
The runoff can seep from soil into underground aquifers as well (H>L>H).
(E>A) Also, volcanoes emit gases into the air. The aerosols released lead to global cooling,
and effect that is called the “aerosol effect.”
(E>L) Lastly, volcanic eruptions also spew fragments of rock, water, and lava flows. These
hazards can destroy cities nearby, forests,
(L>E) Tectonic plates colliding and shifting form volcanoes along fault lines. These ‘cracks’
in the earth allow a portal between the earth’s crust and magma below.
PBL Step 4: List what is unknown.
 What were the worst impacts of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo?
 What effect does sulfur dioxide have on the stratosphere?
 How is this effect different from that of volcanic ash and sulfuric acid?
 Did any tsunamis or earthquakes occur as an effect of the eruption?
 How would the lava affect the soil on and at the base of the mountain?
 Would is cause erosion (lithosphere), tearing out or burning roots, causing the soil
to be unstable?
 What initially causes the eruption process?
 How do volcanoes form?
 How large is Mount Pinatubo?
 What can we learn from this eruption to minimize similar events from happening?
 Are there any benefits to volcanoes erupting?
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What are the effects of ash in bodies of water?
What does the process of regeneration look like?
How should humans protect themselves from the harmful effects of volcanoes
without reversing any beneficial or necessary natural processes?
Was this eruption caused by an earthquake?
If so, could something like this occur to Seattle with Mt. Rainier?
Were there other events that were occurring around the world that were related?
How long did it take the area to be repopulated?
What happened to the sea life not directly affected by the eruption?
How many times in the past have there been multiple volcanic eruptions at once?
Can one eruption cause a shift in tectonic plates that disrupts another volcano and
causes it to also erupt?
What are the different classifications of volcanoes?
What type of volcano is Mt. Pinatubo?
How many times has Mt. Pinatubo erupted?
How do scientists know when a volcano is dormant?
Are most volcanoes dormant or active?
Are there any active volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest?
What was the most destructive eruption?
How far does a volcano’s lava reach?
What is the difference between lava and magma?
What are the different layers/sections of a volcano called?
How are volcanoes created?
Where does the magma come from/how is it created?
Is there any scientific way to accurately predict when a volcano will erupt?
PBL Step 5: List what needs to be done.
Our team is going to address the problems that volcanoes have on the earth’s climate. We
have divided up different areas of research to study and present on. Taylor will begin our
presentation by giving a brief overview of the three types of volcanoes, and he will
conclude our presentation by stating the questions in the scenario and our team’s intended
answers to those questions. James will research the five hazards causes by the volcano
eruptions. Kayla, Ashley, and Abby will research the effects that volcanoes have on the
earth’s climate while studying the ozone effect, the haze effect, and the greenhouse effect
accordingly.
PBL Step 6: Develop a problem statement.
By looking at known effects of volcanoes, including the haze effect, ozone effect, and
greenhouse effect, we will be able to determine whether or not a volcanic eruption effects
the earth’s climate and if so, for how long. We will suggest a geo-engineering solution as a
fix for global climate warming.