Deck 5: The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

Question 1

The characteristic "rotten egg" smell of many active volcanoes is derived from ____________.

A) iron and magnesium within lava
B) carbon dioxide gas
C) stale water within the magma chamber
D) hydrogen sulfide gas

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Basaltic lavas ____________.

A) contain more iron and magnesium than rhyolitic lavas
B) contain more silica than rhyolitic lavas
C) are more viscous than rhyolitic lavas
D) contain a greater proportion of trapped volatiles than rhyolitic lavas

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In 1902,a famous,deadly pyroclastic flow killed thousands of people on the Caribbean island of ____________.

A) Puerto Rico
B) Martinique
C) Aruba
D) Jamaica

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Rhyolitic lavas ____________.

A) do not flow as far from the vent as basaltic lavas do
B) cool much more slowly than basaltic lavas do
C) are associated with volcanoes that almost never emit pyroclastic debris
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 5

The smoky cloud that rises from the vent of an actively erupting volcano is composed of ____________.

A) smoke from wildfires inside the volcanic chimney
B) smoke from wildfires on the outer slopes of the volcano that funnel into the crater
C) fine volcaniclastic debris (ash) suspended in the air
D) a continuous fountain of dark, basaltic lava

Question 6

In 79 C.E.,the citizens of Pompeii in the Roman Empire were buried by pyroclastic debris derived from an eruption of ____________.

A) Mt. Olympus
B) Olympus Mons
C) Mt. Vesuvius
D) Mt. St. Helens

Question 7

Volcanic bombs are ____________.

A) pyroclastic blocks that acquire aerodynamic shapes during flight out of the volcanic vent
B) explosive bodies of lava with high volatile content
C) cinders that explode upon impact with the ground
D) used by geologists to set off small eruptions in volcanoes that are deemed potentially dangerous

Question 8

Pahoehoe ____________.

A) forms when a basaltic lava flow ceases flowing and solidifies simultaneously
B) has a smoother texture than a'a'
C) is easier to walk on than a'a' is
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 9

What is the importance of volcanism to our Earth system?

A) It provides oxygen to the atmosphere.
B) It regulates the core's temperature.
C) It regulates pressure in the core.
D) It creates new rock.

Question 10

Common volcanic gases include ____________.

A) water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide
B) oxygen, ozone, and water vapor
C) oxygen, hydrogen, and neon
D) carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen

Question 11

Columnar jointing is a type of fracturing that occurs in rhyolitic lava flows.

Question 12

Mafic lavas are distinguished by ____________.

A) light coloration
B) low viscosity
C) high viscosity
D) high silica content

Question 13

Ash,cinders,and blocks are all types of ____________.

A) volcaniclastic debris
B) lava flows
C) Pele's hair
D) volcanoes

Question 14

Pele's hair ____________.

A) consists of thin strands of basaltic volcanic glass
B) acquires aerodynamic torpedo-like shapes during flight out of the volcanic vent
C) forms only at the leading edge of basaltic lava flows
D) was instrumental in scoring the winning goal to defeat Uruguay in the 1958 World Cup finals

Question 15

Why do all lava flows not look the same?

A) Eruptive styles of volcanoes vary by geography.
B) Chemical composition and gas content of lava vary.
C) Lava flows depend on the type of volcano from which they are erupting for their characteristics.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 16

Basaltic lavas that solidify at their surface (before ceasing to flow)fracture irregularly,producing a sharp-surfaced lava rock named ____________.

A) pahoehoe
B) a'a'
C) pumice
D) hyaloclasite

Question 17

Pillow lavas are associated with ____________.

A) continental rhyolitic eruptions
B) continental basaltic eruptions
C) submarine rhyolitic eruptions
D) submarine basaltic eruptions

Question 18

Most terrestrial volcanic glass ____________.

A) is highly silicic in composition
B) is coarse grained
C) consists of microscopic crystals
D) freezes from lavas with low viscosity

Question 19

The lithification of material from a pyroclastic flow forms a rock called ____________.

A) metabasalt
B) ignimbrite
C) migmatite
D) tuff

Question 20

A fast-moving flow consisting of a mixture of water and volcaniclastic debris is called a ____________.

A) lahar
B) glowing avalanche
C) flood basalt
D) stratovolcano

Question 21

As compared to subaerial basaltic lavas,submarine basaltic lavas differ in that they ____________.

A) always produce violent pyroclastic debris flows
B) produce large crystals of pyroxene and plagioclase
C) form pillow-like mounds because they cannot flow as far from their source
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 22

Mt.Fuji in Japan is an example of a ____________.

A) stratovolcano
B) cinder cone
C) shield volcano

Question 23

Explosive or voluminous eruptions may cause the volcano to collapse into the (now empty)magma chamber,producing a broad depression termed a ____________.

A) crater
B) lahar
C) caldera
D) fissure

Question 24

Phreatomagmatic eruptions are ____________.

A) explosive (pyroclastic)
B) effusive (dominated by lava flows)

Question 25

Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes,____________ consist of a simple,conical pile of tephra.

A) stratovolcanoes
B) cinder cones
C) shield volcanoes

Question 26

Olympus Mons,the largest known volcano in the solar system,is an example of a _____________.

A) stratovolcano
B) cinder cone
C) shield volcano

Question 27

Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes,____________ consist of alternating layers of tephra and solidified lava.

A) stratovolcanoes
B) cinder cones
C) shield volcanoes

Question 28

The Columbia River Plateau is an example of a ____________.

A) caldera
B) fissure
C) flood basalt province
D) hot spot

Question 29

The difference between tephra and tuff is that ____________.

A) tephra is created in ash falls, whereas tuff is created in pyroclastic flows
B) tephra hasn't become a rock, whereas tuff has
C) tephra is always silicic, whereas tuff is always basaltic
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 30

Whether an eruption will primarily produce lava flows or pyroclastic debris is influenced by the ____________.

A) viscosity of the lava
B) composition of the lava
C) proportion of volatiles within the lava
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 31

Nonviolent eruptions characterized by extensive flows of basaltic lava are termed ____________.

A) pyroclastic
B) effusive
C) explosive

Question 32

Olympus Mons,the largest known volcano in the solar system,is found on ___________.

A) Earth
B) Mars
C) Neptune
D) Io, a moon of Jupiter

Question 33

Hawaiian-style effusive eruptions are a greater threat to property than to human life.

Question 34

Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes,____________ have the most gently sloping sides,due to the low viscosity of the basaltic lavas that form them.

A) stratovolcanoes
B) cinder cones
C) shield volcanoes

Question 35

Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes,____________ are sometimes referred to as "composite volcanoes."

A) stratovolcanoes
B) cinder cones
C) shield volcanoes

Question 36

Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes,____________ cover the largest areas.

A) stratovolcanoes
B) cinder cones
C) shield volcanoes

Question 37

Why do the plumes of ash above an erupting volcano rise to stratospheric heights?

A) The force of the eruption does this.
B) The ash is less dense than its surrounding air.
C) Weather conditions at the time of the eruption control the height of the cloud.
D) The viscosity of the lava directly affects the height of the cloud.

Question 38

Phreatomagmatic eruptions take place when ____________.

A) volatiles effervesce prior to lava flow
B) water enters the magma chamber and forms steam
C) basaltic lava clogs the chimney
D) lava or pyroclastic debris erupt by bursting through the sides of the volcano

Question 39

All volcanic eruptions pass through the crater at the volcanic summit.

Question 40

If you were to find a caldera and crater of the same size and shape,how would you differentiate between them?

A) Given time, the caldera will remain dormant, while the crater will not.
B) No remnants of a volcanic shape will be present with the caldera, while they will be with the crater.
C) Scoria will be found in the caldera but not in the crater.
D) Ignimbrite will be found in the caldera but not in the crater.

Question 41

What was unusual about the 1986 disaster around Lake Nyos in Cameroon?

A) A volcanic eruption involved a lateral blast of volcaniclastic debris that no one anticipated.
B) Pyroclastic flows buried surrounding villages, reminiscent of Pompeii 1,900 years earlier.
C) Volcanically derived carbon dioxide gas bubbled from the lake and suffocated people and animals nearby.
D) A slurry of lava and lake water flowed rapidly outward from the lake and buried surrounding villages.

Question 42

The hot-spot track associated with the Hawaiian Islands and Emperor Seamounts ____________.

A) shows that the Pacific Plate has been stationary over the last 30 million years
B) occurs along a divergent-plate boundary
C) occurs along a convergent-plate boundary
D) shows that the Pacific Plate has been moving northwest for the last 30 million years

Question 43

The Eyjafjallajökull eruption of 2010 was particularly disruptive to air traffic because ________________ .

A) it released such a large amount of ash into the air
B) it is a large, exposed stratovolcano
C) the jet stream was passing over Iceland at the time
D) All of the above answers are correct.

Question 44

The greatest hazard to human life associated with volcanoes is ____________.

A) flowing lava
B) volcanic gas
C) falling ash
D) pyroclastic flows

Question 45

How can a geologist determine whether a shield volcano is extinct?

A) It will have been completely washed away shortly after becoming extinct.
B) It will be carved by river or glacial valleys.
C) Something akin to Devil's tower will be exposed.
D) There will be no volcanic activity anywhere near the area.

Question 46

Large-scale volcanic eruptions can cause a drop in global temperatures.

Question 47

At continental rifts,vast bodies of basaltic lava flow forth from fissures,forming ____________.

A) flood basalts
B) pyroclastic flows
C) ash-fall tuffs

Question 48

Why is our Moon no longer experiencing volcanism?

A) It is not being bombarded by meteorites.
B) Its convection cells have shut off.
C) It does not have a core.
D) It is completely solid.

Question 49

The Hawaiian island chain is an example of a(n)____________.

A) island volcanic arc
B) continental volcanic arc
C) hot-spot island chain
D) stratovolcanic assembly

Question 50

Hot-spot volcanoes ____________.

A) can arise from the ocean floor
B) can arise on continents
C) may arise in the interior of lithospheric plates
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 51

If you lived on the flanks of Mt.Saint Helens and it erupted,what would be the first of the hazards to reach your home?

A) flowing lava
B) volcanic gas
C) falling ash
D) pyroclastic flows

Question 52

Iceland rises above the Atlantic Ocean as a result of ____________.

A) normal mid-ocean ridge activity
B) a submarine hot spot located within the interior of a plate
C) a submarine hot spot located along a mid-ocean ridge
D) subduction of an oceanic plate underneath the continental Eurasian Plate

Question 53

Which national park is home to a large volcanic caldera formed through a very large explosive eruption 640,000 years ago?

A) Acadia
B) Carlsbad Caverns
C) Great Smoky Mountains
D) Yellowstone

Question 54

What signs do scientists look for when predicting volcanic eruptions?

A) changes in earthquake activity
B) increases in gas and steam emission
C) changes in shape
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 55

Mt.St.Helens killed a geologist studying the volcano because ____________.

A) the geologist disregarded orders to keep a safe distance from the vent
B) the eruption produced a greater volume of ash than anyone predicted
C) a landslide produced a lateral blast of volcaniclastic debris that no one anticipated
D) lahars swept down all sides of the volcano and buried all towns within 100 km

Question 56

Iceland formed where it is today because of the presence of _______________ .

A) the mid-Atlantic ridge
B) a hot spot
C) the mid-Atlantic ridge and a hot spot
D) an island arc

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT an effect volcanic eruptions can have on climate?

A) They can dim the stars.
B) They can lower temperatures for at least a season.
C) They can increase the growth rate of tree rings.
D) They can cause more radiant sunsets.

Question 58

The eruption of Mt.St.Helens in 1980 was the greatest explosive eruption in the last 200 years of world data.

Question 59

One of the reasons volcanic eruptions are so deadly is that there is no way to predict where an eruption will occur in the near future.

Question 60

Volcanoes are entirely detrimental to the planet and human civilization,offering no benefits to humankind.