Module IV - Alaska's Volanoes

ENGAGE

Volcanoes -- Where East Meets West
Alaska's Aleutian Archipelago stretches across two days to where east meets west. This arc of 300 mostly volcanic islands with 57 active volcanoes is the northern boundary of the Pacific Ring of Fire. This enormous geographic feature is paralleled underwater by its associated, and arguably more dramatic, Aleutian Trench.

To help put all this into geographic perspective, we'll get a Google Earth and Teacher's Domain point of view of volcano formation and how Pacific cultures fit into the picture.

EXPLORE

Google Earth -- Measuring Up
Have you ever used the Ruler feature in Google Earth to measure geographic distances? If so, you probably have found many uses for this easy feature both inside and outside the classroom. Let's try our hand at it now by measuring and relating some geographic distances in Alaska.

In Google Earth:

1. Select the Ruler feature from the icons at the top of the frame.
   
2. In the pop-up, you can choose units of distance from Smoots to Miles. Select miles, please.
   
3. You can also choose to measure using Line or Path functions. Please choose Path for this activity.
4. Have Fun!

EXPLAIN

• How long is the Aleutian Archipelago?
• How long is the Aleutian Trench?

EXTEND

• Try taking a screen shot of your measurement and saving it to your computer.
• Try measuring some other important feature or route.
  

EVALUATE

• How useful is Google Earth for helping students spacial understanding?
  

ENGAGE

TD Resources-Volcanoes
Explore Alaska's Volcanoes is a TD interactive feature that allows you to select and explore information about different Aleutian volcanoes.

You may find it interesting to view this resource alongside the previously introduced, Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes and Volcanoes interactive resource to view how plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes all converge to create the Aleutian Islands.

Also illuminating is the TD video, Volcanoes in the Infrared, which tells how satellites can be used to monitor volcano dynamics.

EXPLORE

Explore Alaska's Volcanoes






Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes and Volcanoes






Volcanoes in the Infrared






EXPLAIN

• What is the primary source of energy that creates volcanoes?
  
• What kind of plate tectonic action is responsible for the Aleutian Islands' volcanoes?

EXTEND

• What other island arcs in the Pacific Ocean arise from similar processes?

EVALUATE

• Why are volcanoes a good subject to interest students in geosciences?