Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe

Chapter 18: Volcanic Activity

Problem of the Week

Faster than a Speeding Bullet, More Powerful than a Locomotive

The point of this problem is to have students:

• read varying accounts of the same event and glean data from these reports;


• analyze the data, making comparisons and contrasts between the nature of the eruptions;


• see how their rating scales and their ratings compare to the rating system currently used by volcanologists.

Students will find similar information at the Web sites for each volcano, but may record slightly different data as it is reported in differently on each Web site. The important thing is for them to find data relating to the event in the table.

Click here for a printable example of what a student might come up with using the listed Web sites.

When the students have completed their activity, give them the following Web address:

NOVA: Online – Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius

• They will find an explanation of the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and a link to the Index.


• On the page with the VEI chart, you will find an interactive section where students can read the description of the Mt. St. Helens’ eruption events and enter the data from description. The program will give the VEI rating.


• They could also input the Mt. Vesuvius data and determine the rating


• Compare the results from the Web site to the students’ results.