Mystery of the Megavolcano
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Student Handout
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Volcano Suspects: Description
Mount
St. Helens
Location: Washington
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Summit Height: 2,549 m
Crater/Caldera Size: 2 x 3.5 km
Last Known Eruption: 2006
Largest Eruptive Volume: 1 km3
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Crater
Lake
Location: Oregon
Volcano Type: Caldera
Summit Height: 2,487 m
Crater/Caldera Size: 8 x 10 km
Last Known Eruption: ~2500 BC
Largest Eruptive Volume: 35 km3
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Lassen
Peak
Location: California
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano/Dome
Summit Height: 3,187 m
Crater/Caldera Size: 213 x 122 m
Last Known Eruption: 1921
Largest Eruptive Volume: 50 km3
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Long
Valley
Location: California
Volcano Type: Caldera
Summit Height: 3,390 m
Crater/Caldera Size: 17 x 32 km
Last Known Eruption: Pleistocene Era
Largest Eruptive Volume: 600 km3
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Valles
Caldera
Location: New Mexico
Volcano Type: Caldera
Summit Height: 3,430 m
Crater/Caldera Size: 20 x 22 km
Last Known Eruption: Pleistocene Era
Largest Eruptive Volume: 600 km3
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Bruneau-Jarbridge
Location: Idaho
Volcano Type: Caldera
Summit Height: Not Applicable
Crater/Caldera Size: ~80 km
Last Known Eruption: Miocene Era
Largest Eruptive Volume: >1000 km3
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Yellowstone Caldera
Location: Wyoming
Volcano Type: Caldera
Summit Height: 2,805 m
Crater/Caldera Size: 45 x 85 km
Last Known Eruption: Late Pleistocene Era
Largest Eruptive Volume: >2000 km3
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La
Garita
Location: Colorado
Volcano Type: Caldera
Summit Height:
Not
Applicable
Crater/Caldera Size: 35 x 75 km
Last Known Eruption: Oligocene Era
Largest Eruptive Volume: 5000 km3
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Questions
1. The eruptive volume corresponds to the explosiveness of a volcano. Which
volcano had the most explosive eruption? Which volcano had the least explosive
eruption?
2. Does there seem to be a relationship between the size of a volcano's
crater/caldera and an eruption's explosiveness? Why or why not?
After you answer these questions, mark the "Volcano Suspects Table" on your
"CSI: Ashfall Fossil Beds" handout with the volcano or volcanoes you feel is or
are the least likely suspect(s) based on the data, and rate your
confidence level in your answer.
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