Links to sites which provide answers to the most frequently asked questions about volcanoes. Most of these links will take you outside the NZMIA site.

…What is a volcano?

Find out about the structure of a volcano at Volcanoes Online
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

Find out about the history of the name at Volcanoes Online
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

The Volcano World site has a diagram which shows parts of a volcano

The Why Files contains useful information about volcanoes, but the site contains some language which might not be appropriate in the classroom.
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/031volcano/main2.html

…Why does a volcano erupt? …

http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

Read about a Mexican farmer witnessing the birth of a volcano in a cornfield
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/031volcano/paricutin.html

…What different types of volcanoes are there? …

There are 3 main types of volcanoes:

Shield volcanoes

Strato volcanoes

Caldera volcanoes

For further information see the Volcano World site
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/volcano_types/index.html

Volcanoes Online, uses the word 'complex' instead of caldera
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

…What countries have volcanoes? …

You can find out about Earth's Active Volcanoes on the MTU site
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/world.html

The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program also has a host of information. This site is more useful for senior students.
http://www.volcano.si.edu/gvp/volcano/index.htm

…Where are the volcanoes in New Zealand? …

To go to the Volcanoes in New Zealand page on this site click here.

…Are there any volcanoes erupting in New Zealand right now? …

You can check the latest volcano eruptions in New Zealand and around the world on the Volcano World site at
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/current_volcs/

and on the MTU site at
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/world.html

…What is the estimated cost of volcanic eruptions? …

Estimates of cost of eruptions at Mount St. Helens, Alaska and Hawaii can be found on the Volcano World site at:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vw_hyperexchange/CostVolc.html

…Have many people died in volcanic eruptions? …

A volcanic eruption in a populated area can result in a large loss of life. Fortunately many volcanic eruptions occur in sparsely populated areas, or the population receive sufficient advance warning for them to evacuate the area. Volcanoes are still deadly, however. You can check out the deadly volcanoes at:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vw_hyperexchange/deadly_volcs.html

…What sort of gases are expelled in a volcanic eruption? …

http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/Gases/

http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

…What is volcanic ash? …

Volcanoes Online explains how volcanic ash occurs.
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

This question is answered on the GNS site.
http://www.gns.cri.nz/earthact/volcanoes/ash/ash.htm

Find out about ash falls in New Zealand and view daily ash fall maps on the GNS site at:
http://www.gns.cri.nz/earthact/volcanoes/ash/index.html

…Can volcanic eruptions be useful? …

Valuable minerals deposits, agricultural fertiliser, hot water, tourism, snow skiing, building materials... there are many different benefits to be gained from volcanoes.

Volcanoes often produce significant mineral deposits
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/minerals/

There are also other benefits of volcanoes:
http://magic.geol.ucsb.edu/~fisher

Volcanoes Online also details the benefits of volcanic eruptions
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

…Are there volcanoes under the sea? …

Volcanoes erupt under the sea. Sometimes they create new islands like Rangitoto which is about 600 years old. At other times the eruption may be very deep and the effects may not be visible on the surface.
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/Submarine/

In some places the sea floor splits open to form volcanic mid ocean ridges, see
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/volcano_types/spread.htm

In 1967 the Cook Islands issued a postage stamp which depicted an undersea eruption. You can see the stamp at:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~volcano/S94SIco.gif

For more information on submarine eruptions see Volcanoes Online
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

You can view what happens when a submarine volcano comes to the surface at:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/current_volcs/metis_shoal/metis_shoal.html

…Are earthquakes and volcanoes related? …

New Zealand's position on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific plates is the reason for the large number of earthquakes we experience. As the plates grind together they cause earthquakes. Volcanic activity is also associated with areas where tectonic plates collide. Sometimes earthquakes can trigger volcanic events. You can find out about earthquakes in New Zealand on the GNS site.
http://www.gns.cri.nz/earthact/earthquakes/index.html

…How are volcanoes monitored? …

This page is titled 'Can we predict volcano eruptions?'
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/volcanoes/

Volcanoes Online also has information on monitoring volcanic events:
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/index.php

Why Files looks at the problem of forecasting volcanic events
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/031volcano/main3.html

Nova Online also investigates the problems of predicting earthquakes
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vesuvius/predict.html

The GNS site details volcano monitoring in New Zealand.
http://www.gns.cri.nz/earthact/volcanoes/hazards/monitor.htm

…What do the alert levels of volcanic activity measure? …

The GNS site explains volcanic alert levels.
http://www.gns.cri.nz/earthact/volcanoes/alertl_2.htm

…What should I do if I am near an erupting volcano? …

The GNS site details what to do before, during and after an eruption land how to deal with volcanic ash.
http://www.gns.cri.nz/earthact/volcanoes/whattodo.htm

The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency provides advice on what to do in an eruption
http://www.fema.gov/library/volcanof.htm

The MTU site details aeroplane safety and volcanic eruptions,
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/department/classes/ge404/gcmayber/

Read a case history of an evacuation in Papua New Guinea as the Rabaul volcano erupted in 1994
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vesuvius/planning.html

University of Illinois: How to prepare for disasters.
http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~disaster/prep.html

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