Third Quarter

Earth and
Space
Ms. Ella B. Llamas
 Unit outline
• Volcanoes and interior of the Earth and all
the processes happening in the planets
lithosphere.
• Earth’s climate including environmental
challenges in the atmosphere.
• Space beyond in order to understand more
about the neighboring planets and
constellations.
 “To see the Earth as it truly is, small
and blue in that eternal silence where it
floats, is to see Earth together, brothers
on that bright loveliness in the eternal
cold brothers who know they are truly
brothers.”
-Archibald MacLeish, American Poet-
• For thousand of years,
men believed that Earth
is the center of the
universe (Geocentric
Model)
Kepler’s Heliocentric Model
• They also believed that the Earth
is flat and all the natural
phenomena in the environment
depend on the will of supernatural
beings such as Gods and
Goddesses, demons, and other
mythical creatures.
• With the application of
scientific method and the
advancement in technology
people were able to polish
their beliefs and turned
them into scientific
principles.
 Geology
• Is the science comprising the
study of solid Earth, its
composition, and processes.
 Geomorphology
• Is the study of relief
features of Earth’s
crust.
Three primary geologic forces
that continually alters the
planet’s surface
 1. Diastrophism
• Refers to vertical and horizontal movement
of the crust that typically produces the
mountains.
• Characterized by the large movement on
the part of the Earth’s crust.
• Occur due to internal pressure
 2. Erosion
• The physical removal of rock or wearing
down of landmasses by geomorphic agent
such as running water, glacial ice, and
wind.
• Occurs due to the force outside the earth.
 3. Weathering
• Rocks and other materials which are
exposed to the surface of the Earth and
come in contact with the atmosphere
decompose through this process.
 Volcanism
• Sometimes called volcanicity.
• A phenomenon related to various
processes associated with the surface
discharge magma or hot water and steams
including volcanoes, geysers, fumaroles
and hot springs.
Volcanoes
The word
volcano is derived
from the name of
Vulcano island off
Sicily which in turn
was named after
Vulcan, the Roman
God of fire.
 What is a volcano?
vent
• A volcano is a vent or
'chimney' that
connects molten rock
cone (magma) from within
the Earth’s crust to
the Earth's surface.
conduit • The volcano
includes the
surrounding cone of
magma erupted material.
chamber
 Life Cycle of a Volcano
1. Active- one that is erupting or
has shown signs that it may erupt
in the near future

2. Dormant- volcano to awaken in

the future and become active

3. Extinct-dead volcano; not likely

to erupt again
Ring of Fire
 PARTS
Acomposite
Volcano:
 CONE

• The most striking part

of a volcano.
• Usually composed of
mixtures of lava and
pyroclastic.
VENTS
• are openings where
the lava flows or
eruption takes place.
• This main part of a
volcano supplies the
magma from the
underlying source to
the top of the volcano.
 MAGMA CHAMBER

• Large
underground pool
of liquid rock
beneath the
Earth’s crust.
 CRATERS
• A crater is a bowl
shaped indent where
the vent is located.
 CALDERA
• Volcanic
depression much
larger than the
original crater.
• Created when a
volcano’s summit is
blown off by
exploding gases.
 LAVA/MAGMA
• Lava is magma that
has reached
the Earth’s surface.
• Magma is the
molten form of rock,
stored deep
beneath the Earth’s
surface.
• Its temperature upon ejection can reach up
to 700 0C, hence it flows until it cools and
hardens.
 SILLS
• Also called as
intrusive sheets.
• Solidified lava flows
that originally
forced their way
between and
parallel to older
layers of rock.
 DIKES
• Barrier or obstacles
in a volcano.
• Found in igneous
forms that under
great pressure, cut
fractures or fissures
of metamorphic,
sedimentary, or
igneous rocks.
 CONDUIT
• Channel or
pipe
conveying
liquid
materials such
as magma.
 FLANK
• is the side of a
volcano.
• Flank can also
be used to
describe the side
of a mountain.
 SUMM I T
• is the
highest point
of a
volcano
 ASH CLOUD
• The ash cloud is a cloud
that is
Formed from ash
and appears at the top of
the volcano.
• The ash is created from
powdered
rock and lava.
 VOLCANIC BOMBS
• the chunks of lava
blasted into the air
which solidify before
reaching the ground.
• Their sizes vary and
can measure up to 64
mm in diameter.
 LAHAR
• Also called as
mudflows.
• Flowing mixture of
volcanic debris and
water.
 PYROCLASTIC FLOW
• Fast moving currents
of hot gases and rock
travelling downhill
from a volcano.
• The gases can reach
temperature of more
than 1,000 0C and
can move up to a
speed of 700 km/hr.
 Materials From Volcanic Eruptions Affect Earth

Land Air Water

Lava Poisonous Gases* Hot Springs

Volcanic Ash* Adds to Acid Rain Geysers

Landslides (can Haze Fumaroles

cause tsunamis)
Mudflows Lower Deep –Sea Vents
Temperature

*These can get in the jet stream and affect the weather around the
world for months or years

**There can be benefits: richer farmland and beautiful landscapes

Direct
measurements of
pyroclastic flows
are extremely
dangerous!!!
How do pyroclastic flows cause
devastation?
Pyroclastic Flow - direct impact

Courtesy of www.swisseduc.ch
Pyroclastic Flow - burial
Pyroclastic Flow - burns
 Pyroclastic Flow - lahars
• Hot volcanic activity can melt
snow and ice
• Melt water picks up rock and
debris
• Forms fast flowing, high energy
torrents
• Destroys all in its path
Pyroclastic Fall
• Ash load
– Collapses roofs
– Brings down power lines
– Kills plants
– Contaminates water
supplies
– Respiratory hazard for
humans and animals
 So….
How do we minimize the risk of active
volcanoes?
Volcano Monitoring
Volcano Observatories
are set up on all active
volcanoes that threaten
the human population.
These are designed to
monitor and potentially
to predict the eruptive
behaviour of the
volcano in question.
Volcano Monitoring
• Seismicity
• Deformation
• Gas Output
– (on volcano and
remote sensing
techniques)
These three things
are the most
important
precursors to an
eruption.
 Seismic Activity
• Earthquake activity commonly precedes an eruption
– Result of magma pushing up towards the surface
– Increase volume of material in the volcano shatters the
rock
– This causes earthquakes
 Benefits from Volcanoes
• Volcanic soil is rich in nutrients and
very fertile for growing crops. This is a
result of the minerals contained within
volcanic ash settles on surrounding
areas.
• They can form new land masses and
islands.
• Volcanoes provide geothermal energy
which besides being great for spa and
recreation.