Imagine this: the ground shakes beneath you, pictures rattle on the walls, and you hear a distant rumble. Suddenly, there’s a loud explosion, and a shockwave blasts through the windows, setting off car alarms. You quickly duck under the dining table for cover, but then remember you live near a super volcano in the middle of a tropical jungle. Staying put isn’t a good idea.
The shaking finally stops, and you take a peek outside. A giant cloud of smoke covers the sky, blocking out the sun. It’s lunchtime, but it feels like night. The power is out across the city, and you see red-hot lava shooting from the sky. You and your neighbors rush outside, knowing you need to find safe shelter fast. Driving isn’t an option with everyone on the road, so you join the crowd running on foot.
Super volcanoes are in a league of their own when it comes to natural disasters. It’s not just about size or height. A volcano is considered “super” if it erupts more than 240 cubic miles of magma, enough to overfill Lake Erie. It must also have a history of erupting and a magnitude of 8 on the volcanic explosivity index. For example, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth, but it’s not a super volcano because it doesn’t meet these criteria.
As you run along the dark road, a massive flaming boulder crashes through a bridge in front of you. You’re stranded on the side of the volcano, and chaos ensues. Most of the crowd disperses, finding their own ways to safety. You remember a secret path to the other side, but it involves crossing a raging river through the dense jungle. You lead the remaining group into the jungle, using phone flashlights to navigate the dark path.
Suddenly, fiery rocks strike the trees nearby. Everyone panics and rushes ahead, but nowhere is safe when it’s raining scalding fire. You all need to move quickly. Imagine an avalanche of lava rocks sliding down a mountain instead of mud—that’s what’s coming your way. The lava is faster than you thought, and it’s consuming the neighborhood.
Lava isn’t the only danger. Toxic gases from the eruption can fill your lungs, causing headaches, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Luckily, everyone grabbed gas masks before leaving home. As you enter the jungle, phone batteries start dying, making it even harder to see. The terrain is tough, and you’re unsure if you’re going the right way, but your instincts tell you to keep moving deeper into the jungle.
Suddenly, you hear something big running through the jungle. It’s a bear, followed by a rhino, wild cats, and other animals fleeing the eruption. You’re not the only ones escaping. The rumbling continues, and a shower of fiery rocks ignites parts of the jungle. There’s no turning back now.
Finally, you hear the river ahead. You carefully hop across stones to reach the other side, almost slipping, but someone catches you just in time. The river is steaming as lava meets the water, and you hurry to get everyone across. One person’s leg gets stuck between rocks, but with help, you manage to free them just in time.
Exhausted, you keep moving until you reach the main road. Others have escaped safely, and some cars are filling up with survivors. The volcano is still spewing lava, and the city looks like a giant burning lake. Planes and helicopters can’t fly because of the smoke, so air rescue isn’t an option. You keep moving away from the city, knowing you’re still at risk.
Thankfully, a volcanic eruption of this intensity is extremely rare and unlikely to happen for millions of years. Thanks to warning systems and preparation, even regular volcanoes rarely cause such damage. So, don’t worry too much, and keep Yellowstone on your travel list!
Using clay or papier-mâché, build a model of a super volcano. Pay attention to the structure and features that make it “super.” Present your model to the class, explaining the characteristics that differentiate super volcanoes from regular ones.
Conduct a safe classroom experiment simulating a volcanic eruption using baking soda and vinegar. Observe the reaction and discuss how it compares to real volcanic eruptions. Consider the scale and impact of a super volcano eruption in your discussion.
Work in groups to create an emergency evacuation plan for a fictional town near a super volcano. Consider factors like transportation, communication, and safety. Present your plan to the class and discuss the challenges faced during such emergencies.
Choose a real super volcano, such as Yellowstone, and research its history, potential impact, and current monitoring efforts. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting the importance of scientific monitoring and preparedness.
Write a short story from the perspective of someone experiencing a super volcano eruption. Use vivid descriptions and incorporate facts about super volcanoes. Share your story with the class, focusing on the emotions and survival strategies involved.
Volcano – A mountain or hill with a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are or have been erupted from the Earth’s crust. – The volcano erupted, sending ash and lava flowing down its slopes.
Lava – Molten rock that flows from a volcano during an eruption. – As the lava cooled, it formed new rock on the surface of the island.
Eruption – The process of a volcano expelling lava, ash, and gases. – The eruption of the volcano was so powerful that it could be heard miles away.
Magma – Molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface. – Magma rises through the Earth’s crust and can lead to volcanic eruptions when it reaches the surface.
Jungle – A dense forest in a tropical region, often with a rich variety of plant and animal life. – The scientists explored the jungle to study its unique ecosystem and biodiversity.
River – A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river. – The river carved a deep canyon through the landscape over millions of years.
Smoke – The visible vapor and gases given off by a burning substance, especially from a fire or volcano. – Smoke from the volcano could be seen rising high into the sky.
Gases – Substances in a state of matter that have no fixed shape and are often invisible, such as those released during a volcanic eruption. – Volcanic gases can include water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
Disaster – A sudden event, such as a volcanic eruption, that causes great damage or loss of life. – The volcanic eruption was a disaster that affected thousands of people living nearby.
Safety – The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. – During a volcanic eruption, safety measures include evacuating the area and wearing masks to avoid inhaling ash.
