Volcano Lab - Google Earth Name: Michael McElwee

Goal: To be able to describe and identify the common volcano types, and relate volcano types with associated
volcanic hazards, tectonic setting, and geographic location.

A. Set up your computer with Google Earth

1. Download (for free) and install Google Earth from Google.com/earth/

2. Download and open the following file in Google Earth

Dynamic Earth kmz file for use with Plate Tectonics exercises (KMZ File 1.1MB Feb23 13)

3. Once the data file is in Google Earth, move it from “Temporary Places” to “My Places.” It will now be
available every time you open Google Earth on this particular computer.

4. Ok, with an active internet connection, you now have an interactive view of the earth - including plate
boundaries (use the map we created in the class for reference), sea floor age, volcano locations, and earthquake
locations. Take a few minutes to explore the Earth with Google Earth. For example:

 Zoom in and out, grab and spin the globe, etc. The resolution will change as you zoom.
 Expand the Dynamic Earth files by clicking on the plus signs. Clicking on the minus signs reduces
them. Turn the various layers on and off by clicking and un-clicking the boxes.
 Turn off seismicity and seafloor age layers.
 Right-click on a volcano to get information on that item.
 Type your home address (or any place of interest) into the Search/Fly to window and click the
magnifying glass.
 Explore Plate Boundary Model layer, compare it with Fig. 1.22 and Plate Boundaries Map created in
class and presented last week in the lecture (Slide 1 ‘Volcanoes” or Slide 39 in “Igneous Rocks and
Plate Boundaries”).

B. Volcanoes: Volcano shape is strongly controlled by eruptive style, which in turn is controlled by magma
composition and tectonic setting. This lab is intended to give you the opportunity to examine volcanoes from
around the globe, and to interpret the tectonic settings in which they form. To learn more about volcanoes, check
out the following websites: the Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: http://volcano.si.edu/,
Volcano World: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/; USGS Volcanic Hazards Program http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/.

Active Volcanoes
Visit the Smithsonian and USGS report of most recent volcanic activity
Weekly Report
Download Google Earth Network Link from the opening page of the report
https://volcano.si.edu/news/WeeklyVolcanoGE.kml

1. List all active volcanoes in column 1 the table below.

2. Double click on each volcano to find its location, record in column 2.
3. Zoom out to see the Plate Tectonic setting. Is the volcano located around the plate margin? Explore the
color code for Plate Boundary. Note that lines are shown schematically, plate margins are 100s of miles
across the lines on the Map. Color codes for the plate boundary lines:

 Oceanic spreading ridge  Oceanic transform fault

1
  Oceanic convergent boundary  Continental convergent boundary
 Continental rift boundary  Subduction zone
 Continental transform fault

4. Use the Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: http://volcano.si.edu/ database, volcano
search. Locate each volcano using Google Earth.
5. Use the Map you created in class to plot the location of the volcano, use and wright the number
according to the list.
6. Click on the name of volcano in Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report. Find the
information about each active volcano, read ‘Latest Activity Report’, ‘General Information’, check out
Photo gallery, by and the data about most recent and historic eruptions and fill out the table.
7. Read the “Background Information”, Volcano Profile, and General Information to find the information
to fill in columns 4, 5, and 6.
Name of Location Tectonic Setting Type of Eruption Volcano type Most Recent
Volcano (see color codes) (explosive, lava (Shield, Activity
flows, pyroclastic Stratovolcano,
flow etc.) Cinder cone,
Caldera, Dome)
1. Iceland Divergent Plate Fissure eruption Shield August 21
Fagradalsfjall Boundary, from vent
Oceanic
Spreading Ridge
2. Russia Convergent, Strombolian Stratovolcano Ongoing
Alaid Subduction zone
Kuril
Islands

3. Home Reef Tonga Divergent, Gas and Steam Submarine Ongoing

Ridge Continental rift Plumes
boundary
4. France Hot Spot Explosive, fissure Shield Ongoing
Piton de la (Reunio eruption, lava flow
Fournaise n Island)

5.Taupo North Divergent, No eruption, just Caldera Ongoing

Island Continental rift earthquakes.
(New boundary
Zealand
6. Kyushu Continental Rift Explosive, ash and Caldera Ongoing
Aira Japan Boundary, gas plumes
Divergent
7. Paramus Subduction zone Explosive ash Stratovolcano Ongoing
Ebeko hir Convergent plumes and ashfall
Island
8. Andrean Convergent Slow lava effusion Stratovolcano Ongoing
Great Sitkin of Subduction zone and steam
Islands emissions
9. Halmah Convergent Ash plumes Stratovolcano Ongoing
Ibu era Subduction zone
2
10. Northea Continental Ash plumes Stratovolcano Ongoing
Kadovar st of Transform Fault
New
Guinea
11. Eastern Subduction Increased thermal Stratovolcano Ongoing
Karymsky Kamcha zone, convergent activity
tka
Russia
12. Hawaii Hotspot Lava effusion Shield Ongoing
Kilauea
13. Reykjan Divergent, None, just a Crater rows Ongoing
Krysuvik- es Oceanic redesignation
Trolladyngja Peninsul spreading ridge
a
14. Lembata Oceanic Ash/emission Stratovolcano Ongoing
Lewotolok Island convergent plumes
boundary
15.Merapi Central Subduction Lava avalanche Stratovolcano Ongoing
Java zone, convergent
(Indones
ia)
16. Central Subduction Earthquakes, Stratovolcano Ongoing
Nevados de Chile zone, convergent emissions
Chillan
17. Alaska Subduction Lahar, ash, minor Stratovolcano Ongoing
Pavlof zone, convergent lava flow
18. Colombi Continental Earthquakes Stratovolcano Ongoing
Purace a transform fault
19. Costa Continental Phreatic Complex Ongoing
Rincon de la Rica convergent explosions, steam
Vieja boundary and gas plumes,
tremors
20. Eastern Subduction Ash plumes, Stratovolcano Ongoing
Semeru Java zone, convergent pyroclastic flow,
(Indones lahar avalanches
ia)
21. Aleutian Subduction Explosions, ash Stratovolcano Ongoing
Semisopochnoi Islands zone, convergent plumes, and sulfur
dioxide gas release
22. Central Subduction Explosions, hot Stratovolcano Ongoing
Sheveluch Kamcha zone, convergent avalanches, and
tka lava extrusion, ash
Russia plumes
23. Japan In-between Explosions, Stratovolcanoes Ongoing
Suwanosejima subduction zone eruption plumes,
and continental ash
rift boundary
24. New Continental rift Ash emissions Stratovolcanoes Ongoing
Whakaari Island Zealand boundary
3
Etna Italy Continental rift Gas emissions and Stratovolcanoes Ongoing
boundary lava diffusion
Nyamuragira Congo Continental rift Lava effusion Shield July, 2022
boundary abnormalities
St. Helens USA Convergent Pyroclastic flow, Stratovolcano February,2011
subduction zone Lava lahars,
Explosions, Giant
ash clouds

Part 2: Use the Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: http://volcano.si.edu/ database, volcano
search. Locate each volcano using Google Earth, find the information of each volcano and the data about most
recent and historic eruptions and fill out the table.

Etna: Italy (under current eruptions)

Nyamuragira: Congo (under current eruptions)
St. Helens: USA (under volcano.si.edu)

Part 3. Review the map your created after plotting all active volcanoes. Refer to the data you collected in the
table to answer the following questions.
1. Is there any relationship between distribution of active volcanoes and plate boundaries? (in the other
words does most of the volcanic activity occur along plate boundaries? If so what type of boundaries:
divergent, convergent etc.) Explain your answer:
The distribution of most volcanoes cluster around the continental and oceanic plate boundaries.
Volcanoes form at both divergent and convergent plate boundaries, formed both by plates pulling apart
from each other during their collisions.

2. Locate St. Helens volcano on the map. It is the only volcano in the continental US (excluding Alaska
volcanoes) that erupted in historic time. When was the last time Mount St. Helens erupted? Would you
expect any future eruption? Explain your reasoning.
Mount St Helens last erupted in 2008, and before that it had a major eruption in 1980. Mount Saint
Helens is an active volcano, and it is expected to erupt again in our lifetimes. It is located on one of the
most active fault lines in the world, which can trigger an earthquake at any point, potentially setting off
the perfect conditions for an eruption. Not to mentions its magmatic activity happening underground.

3. Compare the tectonic setting (location with respect to tectonic plate boundary) of Kilauea in Hawaii
and other studied volcanoes.

Is the volcano type of Kilauea different from other active volcanoes?

Kilaeua is a hotspot volcano, meaning it is not located near any major plate boundaries. Kilauea is the
exception to the rule, as most active volcanoes lie near these plate boundaries.
4. Compare the tectonic setting of Fagradalsfjall to other active volcanoes. How is it different?
Fagradalsfjall is in the southwestern section of Iceland, which is an island that is almost entirely
composed of volcanoes, right in the middle of an oceanic spreading ridge. While other active clusters of
volcanoes exist on islands, such as Japan, it differs by not being located near any subduction zone,
which is typical with oceanic volcanoes. This makes it a hotspot volcano.
5.
6. Where is Mt. Etna located? It’s tectonic settings reported as ‘subduction zone’. What are the two plates
that are separated by subduction zone? Which plate is subducting? Would you expect other active
volcanoes in the area?
4
 Mt Etna is in Sicily, separated by the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, with the African plate
subducting the Eurasian plate, forming a convergent boundary. Seeing as this is a very tectonically
active area, it is not a surprise there are multiple other active volcanoes nearby.

7. Refer to the map, find the location of Nyamuragira volcano in Congo, the volcano was active, as
recently as July, 2022. Compare it’s location and tectonic setting (see the map, Slide 1 ‘Volcanoes)
with other active volcanoes. The volcano type is similar to what other active volcanoes?
different from other active volcanoes?
8. Nyamuragira is located in the middle of Africa, near a continental rift boundary, sharing the same
tectonic setting as Mt Etna and other volcanoes in the African and Eurasian plate boundaries. It’s
volcanic type is similar to Kilauea, Fagradalsfjall, and Nyamuragira, all of which are active. It differs
from its surrounding volcanoes by being one the most active volcanoes on the continent.

9. Explain the difference and similarity of Kilauea, Fagradalsfjall, and Nyamuragira.

These three are all shield type volcanoes, and each have some of the most active volcanic activity on the
planet. However, while Kilauea and Fagradalsfjall are hotspots, Nyamuragira is not, as it is located next
to one of the biggest convergent plate boundaries in the world. Kilauea is also in the middle of nowhere
in the Pacific Ocean, far from any plate boundaries, along with Fagradalsfjall.