Lesson 9 - Mt Nyiragongo volcano example.pptx

This lesson explores the challenges and strategies involved in managing volcanic hazards in developing countries, using Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a case study. Students will:

Locate and understand the geological setting of Nyiragongo, situated on a divergent plate boundary in the East African Rift.
Examine the dangers posed by Nyiragongo, including its highly fluid lava capable of flowing at speeds up to 100 km/h, and its proximity to the densely populated city of Goma.
Analyze the impacts of the 2002 and 2021 eruptions, including primary effects like lava flows and infrastructure damage, and secondary effects such as disease outbreaks and economic disruption.
Evaluate the effectiveness of responses, including evacuation efforts, monitoring systems, and the challenges posed by limited funding and infrastructure.
Engage in critical thinking, discussing how poverty and inequality exacerbate the impacts of natural disasters in developing regions.

Interactive elements include quizzes, video links, and discussion prompts to deepen understanding of volcanic hazards and disaster management.

1. Title: Life Under a Volcano Pre-DP-1 IGCSE Theme 2: Natural Environment Learning Objective: To suggest why people live in volcanically active regions of the world. To explore the responses to volcanic eruptions using a European example.

2. Teacher Instructions Follow the slides, maybe encourage students to read. Task 1 they can do in their notes but do ask students to share their answers. For the video, play it while the students complete the worksheet accompanying this lesson. They may need to pause it occassionally.

3. Volcanic Threats Almost 500 million people live on/near potentially dangerous volcanoes – especially in countries close to the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'.  South America lead the world in the number of volcanoes that threaten lowland populations. The danger does not just come from an explosion of rocks and ash or the lava flow. Of 204 volcanoes, more than half are covered with glacial ice and snow. Any lava that flows from these volcanoes melts the ice, creating floods, mudflows and lahars.* * A lahar is a stream of volcanic material, ash, and mud. They move faster than mudflows and are extremely hot. Mt St Helens (USA) produced a massive lahar because of the glacial ice and snow melt.

4. Read the source B (Ask the teacher what they remember from this event!) Student questions: How can ash clouds affect people and places far away from the eruption? Suggest why airlines cancelled flights following the eruptions in Iceland and Chile.

5. What opportunities are there living in volcanic places? Challenge: In your opinion, do the possible opportunities outweigh the potential risks? Why or why not?

6. Mineral mines in South America... what do you notice?

7. Main Task Watch the DW documentary on the 2021 eruption in La Palma. Follow along with the worksheet provided. Spain: Eruption on the island of La Palma | DW Documentary - YouTube

8. Spain: Eruption on the island of La Palma | DW Documentary - YouTube