The Hawaiian islands are totally volcanic. (HOTSPOT VOLCANOES) Plot them on a map and consider the order in which they were formed. Is it possible to predict where the next hotspot volcano would be formed in the chain? Give reasons for your answer?
Where is Dante╒s Peak?
Look at a map of the United States of America. The imaginary volcano of Dante╒s Peak is in Washington. What might be the origins of this volcano?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A VOLCANO ERUPTS ?
Task B
Look at this extract of text from the film script of Dante╒s Peak describing the eruption at Galeras at the beginning of the film.
As the truck speeds towards camera something awesome is happening in the distance behind. A huge dark cloud stretches from horizon to horizon. And the cloud is racing down at them off the mountain... a killer cloud of pumice and hot ash and gas.
And then a small volcanic bomb no bigger than a grapefruit slams against the truck.
What sort of volcanic eruption is happening in this extract?
WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE ON VOLCANOES ?
Task C
Man has lived on, by and with volcanoes for centuries for various reasons.
1. Fertile land -
Why are volcanic deposits so fertile?
2. Energy source -
How could the energy of a volcanic region be harnessed to
provide useable energy for man?
3. Imagine you and your family are living in Iceland today. Explain your reasons for remaining in, or leaving (whichever you decide) the country where you were born.
4. Travel and tourism -
People are fascinated by the power of nature as shown by volcanoes. Many volcanoes have that perfect artistic conical shape and are snow capped picture book illustrations. The craters themselves are fascinating and the fertility of the land has led to beautiful woodland with natural hot springs. Eruptions themselves attract tourists. The mayor of Dante╒s Peak tells us in the film the hard work that has gone into selling the area. Write and design a brochure or article to sell Dante╒s Peak as a tourist attraction.
Task D
Scientific research.
Volcanoes in themselves provide the basis of research. Considering the different sorts of volcanic landscape and eruption activity what are the different problems facing scientists in researching volcanoes?
In Dante╒s Peak the scientists have invented a robot to help them investigate volcanoes. What design problems would it have to overcome and what special features would it need?
THE DANGERS TO MAN
Task E
Write a newspaper article of what could happen on Dante╒s Peak if there was an eruption using different news items as the basis of research. You may wish to include historical research into volcanic disasters in the past.
Task F
At one point in the film there is a possibility that Dante╒s Peak might erupt but there is no scientific evidence for it at that time just one of the scientists having a ╥gut feeling╙.
Organise a debate between the two opposing factions on Dante╒s Peak as to whether they should abandon the mountain bearing in mind the work you have done on your tourist brochure and your newspaper article. One of the arguments used in the film is the idea of loss of confidence in an area and you may want to ascertain what that means before you start.
