CLASSROOM EARTH
hotel, every student had countless bags of samples.
Having spent much time at the sleep- ing giant, Mt. Vesuvius, we were excited to venture to a more active volcano. So, what better place than Mt. Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe? In fact, Mt. Etna or “Mongibello” is considered to be the second most active volcano on earth, as far as lava productivity is concerned. Located on the East coast of Sicily and visible for tens of miles, the 10,991ft mountain origi- nated as a shield volcano but contains countless flank eruptive features which contribute to its constant activity and massive size. The journey up the volcano seemed to take forever, but we were elated to see the dozens of craters and lava tubes on the ascent. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to hike to the main summit crater, but we did get to take a tour through several of the flank eruptive cinder cones. Naturally, we collected copious amounts of volcanic samples. Thanks to Dr. Kackstaetter, we were also able to take readings of the temperatures a few inches below the surface at various locations on one of the most recent cinder cones.
Though we had already been on volca- noes, and experienced steam vents and other active volcanic features we started to wonder if we would ever see an actual eruption. Luckily, our next objective was
and we saw our first eruption, spewing molten rock fragments 50 feet into the air not 400 feet from where we were standing. Although the eruption was loud, you could hear crickets amongst the students. Two of the four craters erupted every 5-10 minutes and we stayed for as long as our guide would allow us. Again and again Stromboli would roar to life with each eruption more spectacular than the previous. The concept of lava bombs, ejecta, tephra and ash suddenly became real as each formed literally before our eyes, no longer obscure or theoretical as in a classroom setting. Needless to say, this experience left me flooded with admiration for geology and was one which I will always remember.
The molten lava explosions of Mt. Stromboli at night.
to study Strombolian eruptions, so we embarked on a ferry to Stromboli Island, an isolated stratovolcano in the Aeolian Sea, North of Sicily. Strombolian erup- tions are a beautiful display of nearly constant lava fireworks, and all of us were eager to see it. We only had to climb 924m at sunset, no big deal right? It was either climb the volcano or sit in a boat and watch from below, so characteristi- cally we climbed the volcano. As we gained elevation and got closer to the summit, our adrenaline climbed as well. Within just a minute or two of sitting on the edge of the crater, the volcano roared,
When I followed my passion for geol- ogy, I would have never imagined it would take me across the world to so many incredible places. The MSU Denver Applied Geology program abso- lutely exceeded my expectations in this field course. The knowledge acquired from Dr. Uwe Kackstaetter and fellow students made this a once in a lifetime experience. While the Applied Geology program at MSU Denver may be new, the quality of education and the diligence to get students out of the classroom is phe- nomenal. The best geologists have seen the most rocks and, in our case, “erup- tions.” We are, indeed, better geologists for all the rocks and eruptions we were fortunate to see in Italy.
Iceland’s Volcanic Landscape, Glaciers, and Jökulhlaups: A Sensory Overload
Steven M. Battaglia - freelance researcher, student, and previous author for TPG with educational roots at the University of Illinois and Northern Illinois University.
The Scottish philosopher David Hume once said, “Beauty, whether moral or natural, is felt, more properly than perceived.” As humans, we experience through our five senses (taste, touch, smell, sound, and vision). Through these experiences, we gather information to be able to navigate our lives in the social realm within ourselves and with the natural outdoors.
As geologists, we combine both indoor and outdoor experiences to better understand the planet we inhabit. Presenting ourselves with multiple sensory experiences can be crucial to deciphering the world. One of those outdoor locations is Iceland: a place that is overloaded with such sensory moments; ones that every geologist should experience at least once in their lifetime.
www.aipg.org Jan.Feb.Mar 2019 • TPG 15
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