Vulcanism
Lesson 2: New Zealand – a Dynamic Landscape
Mount Ruapehu, 1995. Shaky Beginnings (Bryan Bruce Productions, 1999)
Key Content
- The dynamic nature of volcanic environments.
- Mt Tarawera Eruption 1886.
- The destruction of the Pink and White Terraces.
- Monitoring volcanic activity to mitigate the effects on humans.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Outline the sequence of events during the Mt Tarawera eruption.
- Discuss the attractions of Rotorua and its surrounding area for tourists.
- Explain the dynamic nature of volcanic landcsapes.
- Describe how scientists monitor volcanic activity.
- Use terminology correctly (eg, Rhyolite volcano, dynamic/static, etc.).
Relevant Film Archive Footage and Key Questions
3. Tarawera
Tarawera, 1886
Mount Tarawerea is a rhyolitic volcano that is highly explosive. The lava is thick, light coloured and gaseous with about 75% silica content.
Ask who has been to the museum at Rotorua in the old spa baths. They have an excellent interactive movie presentation of the 1886 Tarawera eruption. Well recommended. You can also visit a Maori village that was partially buried in ash near Mount Tarawera.
a. Why do you think there was so much public interest in the survival of the Pink and White Terraces?
Major tourist attraction. Money to Rotorua’s developing economy. On the way to becoming a national icon perhaps?
4. White Island, Weekly Review 286
White Island's volcanic fury Weekly Review 286 (1947)
Emphasises the point that White Island is constantly changing. It is a very dynamic environment.
a. What problems would people living on or visiting White Island face?
Smell, heat, sulphurous gas, corrosion from acid fumes, eruptions, danger to life and property.
b. Why would government scientists be so interested in recording information about White Island?
Monitoring change to predict eruptions.
5. TV3 News 19/7/2000
TV3 News (19 July 2000)
a. Why is volcanic ash a problem for aircraft?
Ash causes mechanical damage to the planes’ engines which may lead to
the plane crashing if the engine fails.
6. TV3 News 31/7/2000
TV3 News (31 July 2000)
Again emphasise the dynamic nature of White Island.
Direct students to compare the gear/equipment of the of today’s scientists with those in 1947.
NZ uses a five level alert system for classifying volcanic eruptions. The alert levels range from 0 (low level) to 5 (most hazardous level).
NZ volcanoes are divided into two groups of activity levels: (1) Frequently active volcanoes (eg. Ruapehu, White Island); and (2) Reawakening of dormant volcanoes (eg. Mayor Island, Tarawera or Taupo).
Activity
Design a full page poster in your books to advertise the attractions of the Rotorua area prior to the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption. You should use colour, bold headings, illustrations and text in your poster advertisement.
Useful Links
GNS (Geological and Nuclear Sciences)
Quake Trackers
Geo Net
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