Investigative Mini-Homework #3: Volcano Monitoring by the USGS


Your third mini-homework will allow you to examine the status of volcano monitoring in the United States and its territories by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS has a dynamic website with information about volcano monitoring that is updated constantly. It provides information about all volcanoes that are monitored, their current eruptive status, the aviation color code status, and means of subscribing to its regular updates services.

The USGS volcano monitoring website can be found at:
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/status.php

Your goal is to complete the following three tasks by exploring the content of this USGS website:

(1) What are the five volcano observatories coordinated by the USGS?
(2) How many volcanoes are currently NOT at the green "normal" activity level (i.e., they have "elevated" volcanic activity), what are their names, and where are they?
(3) In the Volcano Status Map, list all the states/territories that contain a volcano with a current designated status (i.e., normal or higher) and how many such volcanoes exist in each state/territory.

Your response must be submitted using Blackboard. Please make sure you address all the questions posed above, organized in an easy-to-read manner in your response.

This mini-homework will be worth 15 points.

DUE DATE: Midnight on Friday, October 1st.


Remember: Investigative mini-homework assignments require you to investigate an assigned topic using any means at your disposal. You must cite the sources of all information. No written report is handed in for a mini-homework; however, there will be some sort of product to demonstrate that you have completed the homework (usually submitted using Blackboard). Mini-homeworks cannot be handed in late.




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