Homework Assignments - Geol of Western National Parks

Name:_________________________

HW2 – Volcanoes & Hawai’i

• Who was the first geologist to recognize that the ages of the Hawaiian Islands become younger towards the southeast? What evidence did he present for his argument?

• What are tumuli?

• Describe the difference in chemistry between tholeiitic and alkali basalts in Hawai’i? How much of Hawai’i is composed of alkali basalts? What is the dominant mineral in both basalt types?

• What was the magnitude of the most severe earthquake that occurred on Hawai’i in historic time? Describe the damage.

• A swarm of small earthquakes that often precede a volcanic eruption are called _________________.

• What is a phreatomagmatic explosion? What is the difference between a phreatomagmatic explosion and a phreatic explosion?

• Who or what is “GLORIA,” and what does she/it do? What did GLORIA discovered about Hawai’i?

• Go to the National Parks website: www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm and report on the present state of volcanic activity on Hawai’i (in just a few sentences).