Step+3+-+Background+Research

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// **1. IMPORTANT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:** // //Volcano- A vent in the crust of the Earth or other planet,moon, etc. from which usually molten, hot rock, and/or steam escapes the Earth's interior.//

//-Shield Volcanoes// //A broad rounded volcano that is built up by successive amounts of very fluid lava.//

//-Composite (Strato) Volcanoes// //A steep-sided symmetrical cone of large dimension built of alternating layers of lava flows.// //Examples of this volcano: Mt. Fuji- ISS014-E-16043, Mt.Mayan- STS083-747-88, Mt. Hood- ISS018-E-29486//

//-Cinder Cone Volcanoes// //A steep conical hill of volcanic fragments that accumulate around and downwind from a volcanic vent.//

//-Composite (Plug Dome, Dome) Volcanoes- volcanic mounds that form when viscous lava is erupted slowly and piles up over the vent, rather the moving away as a lava flow.//

Pacific Ring of Fire -

//Volcanic Vent- an opening at the Earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.//

//Skylight Cave- A hole in the roof of a cave passage through to the//

//Lava Tube-////A hole in the roof of a cave passage through to the//

//Calderas- A large, roughly circular crater left after a volcanic explosion orthe collapse of a volcanic cone. Calderas are typically muchwider in diameter than the openings of the vents from whichthey were formed. //

// Litho/Geosphere- One of four Earth systems, this is the system associated with the solid portions of the Earth. This system includes rocks, sediments, soils, surface landforms, and processes. //

// Atmosphere- Another Earth system is the atmosphere. It is the system that contains meteorological features and phenomena including weather, clouds, aerosols (particles in the air), etc. //

// Biosphere- Yet another Earth system, that is associated with living systems such as biomes or ecosystems. This includes life on land,in oceans and rivers, and microorganisms. //

// Hydrosphere- The last of the four Earth systems, that is associated with water in solid and liquid states. however water vapor is considered part of the atmosphere. //

// Aeolian Processes- Features created by or associated with the effects of wind. A planetary body needs to have an atmosphere in order to have aeolian processes. //

// Fluvial and Alluvial Processes- Valley networks, river channels/canyons, deltas, alluvial fans //

// Tectonic Processes- Folds, faults, mountains //

// Volcanic Processes- Volcanoes, central vents, volcanic deposits //

// Impact Processes- Impact crater //

// Impact Crater- A circular depression in the surface formed by the result of a meteor striking the surface at a high velocity //

// Other Processes- Mass wasting processes, erosional processes //

//** 2. EARTH SYSTEM INFORMATION: **// //About NASA’s Earth Observing System //

//The [|Earth Observing System] (EOS) is a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans. EOS is a major component of the [|Earth Science Division] of [|NASA’s Science Mission Directorate]. EOS enables an improved understanding of the Earth as an integrated system. The EOS Project Science Office (EOSPSO) is committed to bringing program information and resources to program scientists and the general public alike. //

// **3. FORMATION PROCESS:** // //Volcanoes form when hot material from below [|rises] and leaks into the crust. This hot material, called magma, comes either from a melt of subducted crustal material, and which is light and buoyant after melting, or it may come from deeper in the interior of a planet and is light and buoyant because it is *very* hot. // //Magma, rising from lower reaches, gathers in a reservoir, in a weak portion of the overlying rock called the [|magma chamber]. Eventually, but not always, the magma [|erupts]onto the surface. Strong earthquakes accompany rising magma, and the volcanic cone may swell in appearance, just before an eruption, as illustrated in this picture. White arrows in the picture show the volcano getting bigger as magma rises inside. Scientist often [|monitor] the changing shape of a volcano, especially prior to an eruption. //

// **4. FEATURE DESCRIPTION OR CHARACTERISTICS:** // Volcano- //A vent in the crust of the Earth (or other planet,moon, etc.) from which usually molten, hot rock, and/or steam escapes the Earth's interior. //

Lava Flow-streams of molten rock that erupts non-explosivly from a volcano volcano and move slowly downslope.

Lava Tube- When a volcano erupts and lava flows down the side, the top of the lava flow will start to harden leaving the lava on the inside still flowing through the now created tube. As the lava stops flowing the tube becomes hollow, creating what we now as a lava tube.

Caldera- // A large, roughly circular crater left after a volcanic explosion orthe collapse of a volcanic cone. Calderas are typically muchwider in diameter than the openings of the vents from whichthey were formed. //

Skylight Cave- //A hole in the roof of a cave passage through to the//

// **5. ASTRONAUT IMAGES (2-3) THAT INCLUDE THE FEATURE YOU ARE STUDYING (links, ID#s, or images):** // __ Volcanoes __ -Shield Volcanoes- long almost flat

-Composite (Strato) Volcanoes Mt. Shasta-
 * Many Lava Flows
 * Tall
 * Caldera easily viable
 * Small base but moderate size

-Cinder Cone Volcanoes-
 * To small to see detail with most images.
 * Steep sided.
 * Not always extremely tall.
 * Erupt from a single opening, unlike Strato or Shield Volcanoes

-Composite (Plug Dome) Volcanoes Lassen Peak
 * Shaped like a cone
 * Smal slope

-Fissure
 * Long,Narrow crack that lava,smoke, an ash flows out of
 * Near lots of lava flows

Lava Flow-
 * __ Volcanic Feature: __**

Lava Tubes-

Skylight-

-Caldera

//-Fissure//

// **6. GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS:** //
 * Primary Region:** Pacific Ring of Fire

// **7. IF YOU WILL CONDUCT A PLANETARY COMPARISON, PLEASE EXPLAIN:** // We will be comparing caves on Mars to caves on Earth during our Mars Student Imaging Project. During our EEAB Research Project, each team member will be looking for lava tubes and skylight openings in the Earth Satellite images they find. If they find any lava tubes and/or skylight openings in their images, they will report their findings to the two student MSIP Principal Investigators, Kadie R. and Alex P. and they will conduct a planetary comparison.

// **8. OTHER DETAILS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RESEARCH:** //

//***Keep track of your sources in your bibliography.**//