GEOS 102 Geology in the National Parks
Go to http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/ and
answer the following questions:
1. What is the current alert level for Mount St. Helens, and what is the difference between the three alert levels for Cascade Volcanoes?
2. What sorts of events have occurred during the most recent activity on Mount St. Helens, and what does the current seismicity suggest about what is currently happening and what will likely happen in the future?
3. What are some of the greatest hazards associated with cascade volcanoes? Which of these hazards can be a risk for people living up to 50 km away from the volcano, and which can be a hazard even during periods when the volcano is not erupting?
Go tohttp://volcano.oregonstate.edu/, http://history1900s.about.com/od/horribledisasters/p/mtsthelens.htm
, http://www.mt-st-helens.com/history.html, andhttp://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/ApeCave/description_ape_cave.html
and answer the following:
4. What were some of the indicators that Mount St. Helens was becoming active with a high probability of erupting in 1980?
5. When was the cone of Mount St. Helens Created?
6. What is Ape Cave, what is it made of, and when did it form?
Go to http://www.uccs.edu/~geogenvs/ges199/rainier/hazards.htm
click on review questions, print these off, and do questions 1 through 5.
Go to http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/geothermal.htm and answer the following:
7. Why do hydrothermal features exist in Yellowstone?
8. How does a Geyser work?
Go to http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/
and answer the following questions
9. Why are scientists interested in earthquake swarms recorded at Yellowstone?
10. Why has the volcanic activity related to the Yellowstone Caldera migrated over time towards the northeast?