We are a team of highly respected expert
volcanologists. We have extensive experience to
assist you with predicting volcanic eruptions
The Brief
You work for ‘Volcanoes R Us’ and you are a volcanologist, a scientist who studies
volcanoes, a field known as volcanology.
A key aspect of your job is to predict when a volcano may erupt. You do this by collecting
samples from volcanoes eg. of gases trapped beneath the surface of hardened lava. You
then analyze the samples so that the activities of the volcano can be predicted. Only by
knowing how volcanoes work can you make accurate enough predictions that could end up
saving lives.
You have been hired by the local government of a town called Legazpi (also spelt Legaspi),
which is in the Philippines.
This map shows the location of the Philippines
This map shows the location of Legazpi – in the Philippines
You have been hired, as the city of Legazpi with a population of over 160,000, is only 15km
from a volcano – called Mayon.
Here are some facts about the Mayon Volcano:
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2462m high, it is famous for its near perfect cone shape.
The name comes from the local word 'Magayon' which means beautiful.
It has erupted at least 48 times since 1616.
12 of the 47 eruptions have caused deaths.
In 1814, an eruption buried the town of Cagsawa and 1,200 people died. (This town
was only 5km closer to Mayon than Legazpi is.)
The area around the volcano is densely populated because the volcanic ash creates
very fertile soil for farming.
Mayon is the most active volcano in the Philippines
Mayon volcano is rarely inactive. Even in its quiet periods smoke plumes rise up from the
crater. The people living in the area have learnt to live with the volcano. Based on previous
eruptions scientists have drawn up a list of Mayon's dangers.
Lava
Ash
Pyroclastic flows
Lahars
Volcanic bombs
red hot molten rock flowing down gullies in the side of the volcano;
it flows up to 100km per hour, cools before it reaches the bottom of
the volcano
light material thrown high into the air and which then falls to the
ground over a wide area - if still hot it can burn and suffocate, the
weight of it can cause buildings to collapse
rising magma that makes the volcano bulge causing heated rock to
break off and run down the steep slopes in a huge avalanche
moving at over 100km per hour
this risk lasts a long time - when rain falls on loose ash mud flows
rush down the mountain and spread over the low land
hot boulders the size of cars thrown high into the air (these fall to
the ground more quickly than smaller rocks and ash)
Why have you been hired now?
Residents have recently noticed that the crater is beginning to glow and that there is an
increasing amount of a foul smelling gas being emitted.
These are some of the other events that have happened recently:
Event 1
Volcanic bombs and ash clouds were thrown six kilometres into the sky.
Event 3
Earth tremors and gas emissions show that fresh magma is blocking the crater.
Event 4
A pile of lava is building up on the summit. More earthquakes and more SO2 gas emissions
indicate the possibility of a new eruption.
In the most recent event, part of the crater wall has collapsed causing a pyroclastic flow
and brown ash was thrown high into the air.
Your Task
More than 5,000 people remain on the volcano's slopes because they are reluctant to leave
their farms. You have been hired to answer a number of questions that the people have
and to suggest whether you think that the volcano may be about to erupt and whether the
people should be advised to evacuate.
You will need to write a report that answers the following questions:
Key Question
What to include
What is a volcano?
Describe the physical features of a
volcano. Use diagrams, models to help in
the description.
Is it just chance that
Explain, using the idea of plate tectonics,
there is a volcano near why the Mayon volcano is found where it
Legazpi?
is and also explain where else in the
world other volcanoes are found. (Note
for the higher levels: you will need to
include descriptions of both constructive
and destructive plate boundaries, plus
explanations of why some volcanoes are
not found at plate boundaries)
What happens when a Explain the physical processes that
volcano erupts?
cause volcanoes to erupt.
Suggest what you think the causes are of
the events that the Legazpi residents
have witnessed recently.
Describe what the possible
consequences might be for the people of
Legazpi if they do not evacuate.
Is it only people who
Outline what possible consequences
live close to volcanoes there might be for people who may live
that are affected if
eg. thousands of miles from the volcano
they erupt?
itself.
Tick when
included in your
report
The city government have asked particularly that you include more detailed definitions for
the following key words or phrases.
The residents have heard these being used in the newspapers and TV and they have some
basic ideas as to what they mean. They would like you to provide more detailed definitions
so they have a better understanding of how the volcano may affect them.
The table is for you to use to cross off each word or phrase as you include it in your final
report.
Key Word
Basic definition
Report must include the following words:
active
Describes a volcano which has
erupted recently and is likely to
again.
dormant
Describes a volcano which has
erupted in historical times (i.e. the
last 2000 years) but not recently.
extinct
Describes a volcano that has not
erupted in historical times and is not
expected to erupt again.
lava
Molten rock flowing out of the
ground.
Magma
Molten (melted) rock stored below
the Earth’s surface.
natural hazard
A great force of nature, such as an
earthquake or volcano, which is a
threat or a danger to people.
Included in
your report
tectonic plates
volcano
Sections of the earth that move
about and cause earthquakes and
volcanoes.
A cone-shaped mountain or hill often
made up from lava and/or ash.
Report could include the following words:
constructive plate
boundary
destructive plate
boundary
A type of plate boundary where the
Earth’s crust is CREATED. Examples
of a constructive plate boundary can
be found in Iceland.
A type of plate boundary where the
Earth’s crust is DESTROYED.
Examples of a destructive plate
boundary can be found on the west
coast of south America.
Points to consider when making the decision whether to evacuate
Clearly making the decision to evacuate will have serious implications for many people.
(Read the article below which recounts what happened the last time the volcano erupted
and what the effect was for the people who had to be evacuated.)
You will need to show in your report that you have considered the following points:
1. What are the living conditions for the evacuated people likely to be?
2. What sort of problems would the evacuated people be facing?
3. What do you think the ‘push and pull’ factors may be that will make people want to
return to their homes as soon as possible?
You will need to judge carefully how likely it is that the volcano will erupt, based on the
evidence you have been given, what the possible risks are for the residents of Legazpi and
how that balances with the implications of evacuation.
Your report must show why you have come to the decision you have.
Newspaper article recounting a previous eruption.
Up in smoke
70,000 take refuge as Philippine volcano
threatens more eruptions
Reuters, Legazpi, the Guardian, March 6,
2000
US and Filipino soldiers began building tent
cities yesterday to help ease overcrowding
among nearly 70,000 people evacuated from
villages near the Mayon volcano in the
Philippines.
The Philippines' Mayon volcano has a history of violent
eruptions
Photograph: Erik de Castro/Reuters
The volcano, 190 miles southeast of Manila on the island of Luzon, remained dormant
after a week of eruptions which spewed lava and super-heated ash over a wide area.
Some of the refugees who fled from their homes on Mayon's slopes are housed in
school buildings about six miles from the volcano. Others are staying in shelters made of
iron sheets which turn into virtual ovens during hot weather.
Two military transport planes flew into the provincial capital, Legazpi, carrying the US
troops, tents, building materials and 20,000 masks to protect refugees with respiratory
illnesses from ash falls.
Despite the lull, scientists continue to record dozens of small quakes every day and
Mayon's slopes remain swollen from the pressure of rising magma, indicating that the
threat is not over.
Mayon's last major eruption, in 1993, killed 77 villagers.
Resources to assist your research
Your support team have uploaded some resources that may help in the writing of your
report. These resources can be found at the following website address:
http://blogs.longhill.org.uk/volcanoproject/
You also have access to resources through the library and from your own research.
Assessment Criteria for Volcanoes Project
The phrases that are in bold type are features of your learning that you may return to – in
other projects. These are the areas that you particularly need to focus on in order to
continue to improve your work.
Levels 3-5
Level
3
4
5
Level Description
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You show knowledge of where some volcanoes are located.
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You describe the physical features of volcanoes.
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You are beginning to use appropriate geography vocabulary, using words and
phrases taken from the volcano key word list.
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You show knowledge of where volcanoes are located and can give a simple
explanation for why volcanoes are found where they are.
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You recognise and describe in detail the physical features of volcanoes.
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You communicate your findings using appropriate geography vocabulary, using
words and phrases taken from the volcano key word list.
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You say whether you think the Legazpi people should be evacuated or not and you
give some reasons why you think this.
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You show knowledge of where volcanoes are located and can give a simple
explanation, using the idea of tectonic plates, for why volcanoes are found where they
are.
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You recognise and describe in detail the physical features of volcanoes.
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You can select appropriate information, about volcanoes and write an organised
project using the right geography vocabulary.
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You say whether you think the Legazpi people should be evacuated or not and you
give some reasons, both for and against, your decision.
Assessment Criteria for Volcanoes Project
Levels 6-8
6
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You show a depth of knowledge of where volcanoes are located and can explain,
using the idea of tectonic plates, why volcanoes are found where they are.
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You recognise and describe in detail the physical features of volcanoes.
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You can select appropriate information, about volcanoes and you present your
findings in a coherent way, using appropriate methods and vocabulary to reach
conclusions that are consistent with the evidence.
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This includes outlining reasons why the Legazpi people should be evacuated and
reasons why they may want to stay.
You show a depth of knowledge of where volcanoes are located and provide
detailed explanations of why volcanoes are found where they are.
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You recognise and describe in detail the physical features of volcanoes.
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You appreciate that people and places are affected by actions and events in other
places, eg. you outline the arguments both for and against your decision as to whether
the Mayon volcano will erupt and if the people from Legazpi should be evacuated.
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You are also able to describe how other people - no where near the volcano - may be
effected by an eruption.
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Also you can establish your own sequence of investigation. In addition, you
present well-argued summaries of your work, use geographical vocabulary and
begin to reach detailed conclusions.
You are able to analyse the physical characteristics of places eg. the Pacific Ring of
Fire, drawing on your knowledge of a wide range of locations and scales.
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You can make links in your knowledge and understanding in the UK and the wider
world.
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You can describe and explain complex physical processes eg. plate tectonics and
show how these processes can change places and environments.
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In addition, you can also explain possible consequences of environmental
change eg. the Mayan volcano erupting.
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You show independence, identifying additional geographical questions and
issues and establish your own sequence of investigation, present full and
coherently argued summaries of your work, use geographical vocabulary and
reach substantiated conclusions.
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