Virtual Volcano Investigations Using the Web
Seeing Volcanoes in Real Time Around the World Using the Internet
It is nearly impossible for most people to visit volcanoes in this country and other countries around the world. So how can you visit them without ever leaving your home? The only answer is a virtual field trip. Virtual field trips allow everyone to visit volcanoes in many countries, simply by using the Internet and one website in particular. Volcanoes which can be visited include:
- Mt St. Helens (USA)
- Mt Fuji (Japan)
- Mt Ararat (Turkey)
- Mt Erebus (Antarctica)
Volcanoes around the World
Taking a virtual field trip to see volcanoes around the world is very easy to do. Check out this website, Volcano Cams, which provides access to many of the worlds well known volcanoes. They are located in:
- New Zealand
- Russia
- Japan
- Greece
- New Zealand
- Mexico
- Turkey
- Antarctica
- United States
- And other countries
These volcanoes can be visited on a regular basis to collect information about the volcanoes and the environment around the volcano. The live web cams provide pictures of what is happening with and around the volcanoes, as changes occur every time the webcam updates, typically every 60 seconds.
So what other science can be collected by visiting these volcanoes on a virtual field trips? One thing is to check the weather in the vicinity of the volcano. For example: one day it is sunny and clear, the next day it is rainy, maybe the next day it is snowing, and so on. You can compare this weather information with other world weather sources, like the weather channel for example.
You can also construct a model of a specific volcano being visited using the all the data collected during observations with the webcams.
How Volcanoes Work
You can also visit the following website, Earth Inside Out, to view interactive descriptions of volcanoes. Topics include:
- Volcanism
- Hotspots around the world
- Volcano activity
- Volcanoes around the world
Connections with other Subjects
You can make connections in geography, reading, and mathematics.
Since these volcanoes are located all over the world, use a world map to find and locate the volcanoes. Once located, use pins or flags to mark their exact location. Next the volcanoes’ locations can be determined using latitude and longitude coordinates, for map reading skills in geography.
Also the volcanoes are located in different time zones. Children can determine exactly what time zone each volcano is located in. Also, note whether it is day or night where the volcano is located when children decide to make a virtual visit. This will help them determine what time of day they need to visit the volcano using the webcam to see a specific volcano in daylight -- more geography skills in action.
A reading connection can be made using a book recommended by the National Science Teachers Association for studying volcanoes – Probing Volcanoes by Laurie Lindop [21st Century, 2003]. The book provides examples of the inner workings of volcanoes and how scientists collect data.
A math connection might involve by recording observed data about the volcanoes during long term investigations (typically a month or more) about the volcanoes.
Volcanoes in Children’s Education
As you can see, the possibilities are endless when taking virtual field trips to volcanoes to further children’s education about things they cannot possibly see any other way. The ability to investigate science using the Internet is unlimited and every opportunity should be explored.
