Analyze a volcanic eruption. Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991 was one of the world’s largest eruptions in the past 40 years. Located in the Philippines, the volcano introduced significant amounts of ash and gases into the atmosphere, enough to cool the temperature of the entire earth slightly over a period of 3 years.
Part 1: What Do These Images Reveal?
Procedure
- From the list of materials for this lesson, click the image titled Gulf Stream 1. The image may open in a variety of programs. Use the application on your computer that best shows the image.
- Determine what area you are viewing. Some images have an information legend and key included; others may include geographic clues to the area shown. Look at the information included with the image. This is an image of the ocean temperature near the Atlantic coast of the United States, including parts of the states from North Carolina to New Jersey.
- Note that each color in this image represents data. Notice the colors closer to and farther away from the coastline. What trends do you see?
- From the list of materials for this lesson, click the image titled Gulf Stream 2. Consider the two images of the same general region, but further south along the coast. These images were taken several days apart in early September of 1999. What are the substantial differences between them? The first image is prior to the onset of Hurricane Dennis. The second was taken shortly after the hurricane.
Part 2: Analysis of Volcanic Eruptions
Procedure
- Familiarize yourself with the location of Mount Pinatubo and the details of the eruption. Use the Internet. Determine the longitude and latitude of the volcano.