Processing math: 100%
Skip to main content
Library homepage
 

Text Color

Text Size

 

Margin Size

 

Font Type

Enable Dyslexic Font
Geosciences LibreTexts

9.1: Why It Matters- Volcanoes

( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

Explain the origin of volcanic features and landforms; as well as the causes and hazards associated with volcanic activity.

Volcanoes are one of the most dynamic, powerful and destructive forces on the Earth. While they are majestic in appearance, they are often sleeping giants just waiting to wake up and make us take notice. Some of you may have seen volcanic eruptions in person or on TV. Volcanoes are the geologists’ window into the Earth’s interior. If you recall from the previous section, plate tectonics directly influences the location and types of volcanoes we find across the globe. Now we understand why the west coast of America as a chain of volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains and why Japan has so many active volcanoes.

Occupation Focus: Volcanologists

Volcanologists have one of the most exciting yet dangerous jobs of all scientists. Please watch this video on the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 to learn more about volcanic eruptions, how scientists study the volcanoes and why volcanologists are important to society.

Thumbnail for the embedded element "Mount St. Helens: May 18, 1980"

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/geo/?p=316

This video shows the most destructive eruption ever that happen to also be the loudest sound ever recorded on earth. This eruption actually blew the volcanoes out of existence, until recently as a new active volcano is currently forming in its place.

Thumbnail for the embedded element "THE LOUDEST SOUND IN HISTORY"

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/geo/?p=316

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe and compare different volcano types.
  • Describe the processes that form volcanoes.
  • Classify and identify igneous features.
  • Describe major volcanic hazards and their potential effects.
  • Identify the various methods used to monitor volcanic activity

Contributors and Attributions

CC licensed content, Original
  • Authored by: Kimberly Schulte and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
All rights reserved content
  • Mount St. Helens May 18, 1980. Provided by: USGS. Located at: https://youtu.be/Ec30uU0G56U. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License
  • THE LOUDEST SOUND IN HISTORY. Authored by: Second Thought. Located at: https://youtu.be/opWwfRS7HZU. License: All Rights Reserved. License Terms: Standard YouTube License

This page titled 9.1: Why It Matters- Volcanoes is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lumen Learning via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

Support Center

How can we help?