Description:
Students investigate the effects of volcanic eruptions on atmospheric chemistry by looking at the travel of aerosol clouds from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Nyamuragira. They explore the geography of each region, and develop a method of study for any volcanic eruption. Their specific activities include describing the general effects of volcanic eruptions on the Earth system, and building an Earth system science concept map; developing procedures for data analysis of changes in the shape and composition of a volcanic plume in a satellite image; calculating map/image scale and analyzing pixels to determine the total area of expelled volcanic cloud; determining the scale of a gridded map using a ruler and trigonometry or pixels; analyzing and graphing results from data sets; and substantiating conclusions that they infer from their analysis of the data.

This investigation is under development. To participate in pilot testing, go to the website for NASA Goddard Earth and Space Science Education Project (GESSEP): http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/experimental/July61999siteupdate/inv99Project.Site/invhome.html and click on "To Pilot Investigations."

Organization:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

URL:
http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/experimental/all98invProject.Site/Pages/trl/inv4-3.html

Contact:
Activity Principal Investigator: Pat Keeney

GESSEP Program Principal Investigator: Steve Gilligan
Email: charles1@mail.ameritel.net

GESSEP Program Co-Investigator: Vern Smith
Email: vern@aesp.nasa.okstate.edu

Cost:
Free over the Internet

Education Level:
Grades 9-12

Subject:
Atmosphere
Chemistry
Geography
Geology
Volcanism

Resource Type:
Internet Site
Curriculum/Instructional Materials
 
 

Date Added to teachearth.com:
5/1/00