Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 06:48
Forums
Erebus Volcano Antarctica

Hello again Mr. Wood!

I had to go to this one because I guess the other one was full or somethingWink.

So I didn't get to see your reply if you were going to see the Ross Ice Shelf.

And I have one more question: does Mt. Erebus have a low silica level or high (or thick or thin) in the lava?

I'm excited to hear from you!

-Bailey Webster

2nd period 6th

Tue, 12/16/2008 - 22:53

John Wood

Hello Bailey,I have seen a small part of the Ross Ice Shelf.  And I did get one or two pictures.  Good question about the silica content.  Baised on what you've learned from the classwork, what do think the lava looks like that is in Erebus now?  Talk it over with others and let me know.
Cheers,
Mr.Wood 

Tue, 12/23/2008 - 08:42

Guest

I think it is low because it makes lots of tiny eruptinsRachelE.

Mon, 12/29/2008 - 16:40

Guest

I also think it could be thick because the daily eruptions are explosives which indecates high slica lava.~Bailey W.

Tue, 12/30/2008 - 16:58

John Wood

Hello Bailey,I have seen the Ross Ice Shelf, but only from a distance.  What do you think about the lava and the silica content?  I am interested in what you guys have to say.
Happy New Year!
Mr. Wood 

Wed, 12/31/2008 - 11:39

Guest

HiI was wondering about Baily's comment, if it was high in silica, would it not make the small eruptions it makes?
RachelE.

Wed, 12/31/2008 - 13:49

John Wood

Rachel,Good point!  What do you think?
Mr. Wood 

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 10:51

Guest

Mr. Wood,But are the daily eruptions explosive or quiet that would decide it all if it is high or low silica....... because from what I've learned the high silica is thick so it clogs the pipe and the pressure builds up and explodes (in an explosive eruption) so are the eruptions in Erebus explosive or quiet? Also, when was the last real huge eruption of mount Erebus not a small daily one, a massive one?
Happy New Year! =)
~Bailey W. 2nd period

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 17:01

John Wood

Bailey, What you are saying is very true.  I'm glad to hear that you have learned a lot.  You really are answering your own question.  Of course as usual, the book doesn't give the whole picture.  You may need to look up some addtional information on eruptions.  The last really large eruption here was probably in the mid 1800's.  It was not massive.
Cheers,
Mr. Wood 

Wed, 01/07/2009 - 15:09

Guest

This is my last comment/question for the trip. What has been the lowest and what has been the highest temperature for your trip? How far does the pipe go down inside the volcano until it gets to the magma chamber? I can't wait for your return! ~Bailey 2nd period

Wed, 01/07/2009 - 15:40

John Wood

Thanks for the questions Bailey,It's been great taking with you while I was away.  I hope to be in class when you all present your Erebus reports.  The lowest temperature this season on the mountain was about -84 degrees with the windchill.  The highest was around -6 degrees on a calm day.  We are not sure how far down the magma chamber is yet, but we hope to figure that out when we go through the data.
 See you soon!
Mr. Wood 

Thu, 01/08/2009 - 17:07

Guest

Okay this is my last one! (=How was catscaning the mountain?
What were some of the tools or technology that you used to do so?
I can't wait to see you!
-Bailey

Sat, 01/10/2009 - 14:23

John Wood

Bailey,The scaning went very well.  The only really special tools that we had were the seismometers.   They did all of the work, we just had to get them in the right places.  We also used handheld GPS units to place and pick up the stations.  The GPS also tells the seismometers where they are and when the blast happened, which is VERY important to getting the scan right.  
Cheers,
Mr. Wood