GEOPHYSICAL ENGINEERING ITS

Task 1: Critical
Thinking!
First week tasks of Geodynamics class B
Natassa Adi Putri-3712100020

Lecturer : I Putu Khrisna W. B.Eng

Task 1: Critical Thinking!

Critical Thinking!
1. What happens to a mid-plate shield volcano as it moves away from a
hotplate?
Hotspots are volcanic regions that have experienced active volcanism
for a long time period. The tectonic plate will always move and if the shield
volcano moves away from its hotplate, then it will form volcanic island that
chain continuously. The hotspot is caused by a narrow steam of hot mantle
convecting up from the mantle-core boundary called mantle plume. Earth
crusts will be uplifted because the force of the steam and make mountainous
topographic. The actual case can be studied in the Hawaii Hotspot regions.
This Hawaii spot region is the largest crustal plates on earth.
Over million years, the plate move across the hotspot and the original
volcano become extinct but a new volcano will begin to form in the area of
the hotspot.

Figure 1 Illustration of hotspots movement

(source: wikipedia)

Diagram above showing a cross section through earths lithosphere

indicated by yellow with magma rising from the mantle indicated by red. The
plate tectonic will moves but the hotspot stand stills formed a new shield of
volcano.

Figure 2 Illustration in Hawaii Hotspot Region

2. Explain the differences and similarities in the internal structures of these

types of volcanoes.
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Task 1: Critical Thinking!

Differences

Shield Volcanoes

StratoVolcano

magma chamber

near surface made the

eruption
is
not
explosive
also
have
minimum amounts of
gas
non-explosive

deep down the surface

made
the
eruption
explisive
and
destructive

eruption type

eruption materials

slopes (tilt)

magma type

explosive-destructive

basaltic, small amount Andesitic to rhyolitic

of pyroclastic in shield,
but easily founded near
the eruptive vents
sloping (about 5-10o)
Steep. More steep near
the summit due partly
to thick short viscous
lava
low viscosity basaltic High viscosity, high in
magma that flows easily magma silica and gas.

Task 1: Critical Thinking!

Figure 3 Illustration about the differences in Shieldvolcano and Stratovolcano

The similarity
a. Basic Process (Tectonic plate)
The tectonic plate move around and slide against one another. Magma made
molten rock and gases, exist between Earths crust and mantle.
b. Volcanic Hazard
All these volcanoes release gases, tephra (material fragments) and
heat. Methane and other harmful gases may extend up to 10 km from
the volcano and create acid rain, burned vegetation and contaminated
water. This eruption may generate earthquake which can create
damaging debris avalanches, landslide, or even tsunamis.
c. Internal structure
Every volcanoes have internal structure like pictures below.

Task 1: Critical Thinking!

Figure 4 Internal structure of volcanoes.

3. You are asked to study a new volcano. What criteria would you use to assess
the danger it poses to local communities?
The first step is identifying the kind of volcanoes. The parameters that
should be noted is the shapes of the volcano is it stratovolcanoes or shield.
After that, we identifying the materials and mapping the safe zone. If the
volcano have a crater, than we should identify the type of crater and its
compositions. We also study about the historical eruption about that
mountain and identify the effects after the eruptions.
Before presenting to local communities, it should be an acquired data.
So its better to have an observation and make a mitigation management for
planning mitigation. The mitigation itself can be observed by the satellite and
micro tremors activity. Its a good way too, to have a monitoring post near the
volcano.
After identify all the characteristics, the easy way to tell local
communities is have a discussion and counseling about volcanic hazards. We
train them to have a simulation if the volcano is erupting and also teach them
about the characteristic of the volcano.
After that, the final stage is installing signs for the evacuation track
and makes an assembly point. Also we make a map for the local communities
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Task 1: Critical Thinking!

so they know where are the safe place when eruption happens and how large
is the hazard range.
The observation is important too of there are many civilians around the
volcanoes. The purpose is to make it more intensive and know the volcanoes
much better. In Indonesia, we already have an observation institution for
observing the activity of volcanoes which called PVMBG.

The picture above is showing an activity of geophysical engineering

department in Bromo Mountain observation center, PVMBG in Bromo. This
activity conducted to study about Bromo Mountain and its hazards.