Please read my questions and answer Most people don’t realize that volcanoes com

Question

Please read my questions and answer

Most people don’t realize that volcanoes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and forms of explosiveness. Your assignment is to research two different volcanoes from around the world. The first is Mount Rainier right outside of Seattle, Washington and the second is Isla Fernandina of the Galapagos Islands.

The first part of your assignment is to list 3 geologic differences between the two volcanoes. This will take a little research and must specifically address the following geologic differences, 1) plate tectonic setting, 2) type of rock composing each volcano and 3) how often and violent each volcano erupts.

Next, I want each of you to take a “field trip” to both volcanoes. No, not a real field trip, but rather a virtual field trip using Google Earth. If you do not have Google Earth on your computer you may download it at:

http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

As you visit each volcano, list 3 differences you can observe between the volcanoes from the Google Earth images. These observations MUST include 1) comparing the relative sizes of the volcanoes (not just the height, but also the aerial extent of each volcano), 2) the relative slope differences of the volcano flanks (which is steeper or more gentle?), and 3) any differences between their craters (look carefully at the crater of each and describe the differences). I am testing how well you observe.

Google Earth is a powerful tool in geology, as you can visit sites all around the world from the comforts of your own home. Be careful to check that you are in the correct locations, for instance, when you type in Isla Fernandina in Google Earth doesn’t recognize this location, so in order to find it type in Galapagos Islands and navigate your way to Isla Fernandina. Also, try to get multiple views of each volcano as you may see something from the side that wasn’t observable from above. To do this, click on the Shift Key and scroll with your mouse. You can then go around in 360 degrees by selecting the Control Key and again scrolling with your mouse. If you want more tips on how to view in Google Earth go this website:

http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2006/01/important_basic.html

Your final product will include a 3 geological differences between each volcano listed above and 3 observations of each volcano using Google Earth.

Explanation / Answer

Mount Rainier: Mount Rainier is located on subduction plate boundary characteristic of convergent plate margin. Here the North Atlantic plate and Juan de fuca plate converge resulting into convergent boundary.

The Isla Fernandina is located on the divergent plate boundary.It is formed in the rift zone created due to drifting away of NAZCA plate from the Coco's plate.

Composition- The composition of Mount Rainier is typicalof the convergent plate boundary, characterized by mostly andesites. The mount Rainier is composed of mostly lava flows along with breccia and small amount of tephra.

The Isla Fernandina on the other hand is characterised by dominantly basaltic composition.

Eruption: Mount Rainier is known to erupt more than a century with the last activity reported in 1854 whereas Isla Fernandina is more active and is known to erupt every 5 to 10 years.

Physiographic difference

1- Size- Mount Rainier is stretches about 7 miles from East to West and 9 miles from North to south and it is much higer as compared to Isla Fernandina. Isla Fernandina is smaller extending for about 4 miles from east to west and 5 miles from North to south.

2- Slope- Mount Rainier has steeper slop than Isla Fernandina. Isla Fernandina is characterised by much gentler slope

3- Craters: Crater at present scene is plugged at Mount Rainier hence cannot be seen however the pics of the crater indicates it to be a bowl shaped depression which is elongated in East West direction ( from pics so not sure) whereas the crater at Isla Fernandina is more circular.

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