Tectonic & Volcanic Processes

Each forum assignment is broken down into two basic parts:

InitialPost (worth 15 points)
A follow-up post to communicate with students and further the discussion (worth 5 points)
I. Complete the following for your initial post (part A and B):

A. Choose a volcano listed in the USGS Volcano Hazards Program resource. It can be any one listed in California, Hawaii, or Alaska. Perform research on this volcano and summarize the formation and history of it (i.e. how did it form?, why is is located where it is? when did it last erupt?, is there potential for it to erupt in the future?, if so, how destructive will the next eruption be? etc.). Extra Credit Opportunity (optional; worth 2 points) – include maps, images, and/or diagrams in your post to enhance your explanation.

B. As you’ve seen in the video “The Hayward Fault: Overdue for Disaster”, the Bay Area is a complicated mixture of several fault systems. Summarize why scientists anticipate a large earthquake may occur in this region the near future. Why is the Hayward Fault considered more dangerous than the San Andreas Fault?

Be sure to cite any outside resources using MLA citation format. Your initial post should be a minimum of 250 words. See the “Initial Post” rubric below for further grading details.

II. For your follow-up post you must respond to at least one of your classmates initial post (worth 5 points). Provide comments/feedback on what they wrote in their initial post and/or ask questions. Your follow-up post should be thoughtful, through, and aim to generate discussion. You are encouraged to respond to multiple classmates, but the minimum requirement is one. Your follow-up post should be at least 100 words minimum. See the “Follow-Up Post” rubric below for further grading details.

Links:

http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/tectonics_landforms/title_page.html

https://vimeo.com/98647351

https://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/tectonicsmap/

http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/volcanic_landforms/title_page.html

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/index.html

For the follow up post

A. Lassen Volcanic Center is located inside the Lassen Volcanic national park in Shasta County near Redding, CA. Lassen exists due to subduction of the Gorda plate under the North American Plate (Volcanoes and Their Relation to Plate Tectonics). It hosts a significant geothermal system, hot springs, steam vents, boiling mud pots and is considered a Stratovolcano (Volcano Hazards). Lassen has a very high eruption threat however; the last significant eruption was the Lassen Peak eruption in 1917 consisting of mostly steam blasts. Lassen Peak is the largest plug dome volcano in the world (Lassen Volcanic National Park). Vents are scattered around the park over approximately 200 square miles and have caused hundreds of explosive eruptions over the past 825,000 years. Furthermore, over 50 effusive eruptions have taken place over the last 100,000n years. The area is subject to regular, though small, volcanic earthquakes. Hot molten rock underground heats any rainfall and/or snowfall the area gets and feed the 8 different hydrothermal systems. There is an extremely high potential for both explosive and effusive eruptions in the future, it is the most likely volcano of the cascades to erupt in the next few decades.

B. The Hayward fault line is more dangerous because it runs under densely populated areas in the East Bay (Oakland, Hayward, San Leandro, Fremont, Berkeley, Alameda, Richmond) where approximately 2 million people live. Much of the businesses, homes, and schools on the fault have not been retrofitted to handle an earthquake above a magnitude of 5 and it is expected to be around a magnitude of 7. Furthermore, the Hayward fault is past due for a large earthquake making this a scary reality, especially for those of us living on or near the fault and those of us attending or planning to attend CSUEB which is only a mile from the fault line. The Hayward fault line could also trigger other fault lines in the area causing even more devastation.

Works Cited

“Lassen Volcanic National Park.” California Travel Tips, YouTube, 11 Oct. 2013, youtube.com/watch?v=SDkpRbrNk8M.

Volcano Hazards. “USGS: Volcano Hazards Program CalVO Lassen Volcanic Center.” USGS: Volcano Hazards Program CVO Mount Hood, volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/lassen_volcanic_center/.

“Volcanoes and Their Relation to Plate Tectonics.” Information and Resources about the San Andreas Fault, www.sanandreasfault.org/Volcanoes.html.