o manages participation in the Alaska Volcano Observatory of the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, noted in an e-mail that following the volcano so closely wasn’t possible just a few years ago.
Prior to the Internet, the only sources for volcano information were releases from the observatory or media coverage of an eruption.
“This is the first eruption we’ve been able to show real-time seismic data for. Beyond just the presence of the Internet, it’s the maturity of the Internet the prevalence of broadband connections and enough bandwidth to move the data,” Nye wrote, noting that the observatory’s Web site had 70 million hits from more than 140 countries in the first half of January.
“We just plain couldn’t have done that a few years ago,” he said.
Wallace said the observatory has fielded quite a few inquiries from teachers. With classes examining all the data available on the Web site, many of the questions have more to do with how to interpret the data.
“Sometimes they call in with questions like, ‘Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?’ It’s fun to see how people are interpreting the data on their own, taking a stab at being amateur scientists,” Wallace said.
One way to participate in the research is to collect ash samples, and several classes across the peninsula are preparing to do just that.
Wallace, who heads the observatory’s ash collection efforts, said she’s received a number of samples already from the Homer area as well as the Iliamna area.
“I’m hoping more people are geared to do that if we have another explosive eruption. We’re very happy to have samples, and most people are very enthusiastic about getting them, so it’s a win-win situation,” Wallace said.
There is a protocol to collecting ash samples. Wallace said quite a few teachers attended a workshop Jan. 19 in Homer, and detailed collection instructions are available on the observatory’s Web site.
“Students who collect careful samples are participating in real science,” Nye wrote, explaining that a great deal of information about the volcano can be uncovered by analyzing the ash.
“Because observatory staff can’t be everywhere ash might fall, observations from and samples collected by local volunteers are an important part of their data gathering process.
“I think with what’s happening, a lot of people are becoming more observant through time, and it helps us. We’re getting good data,” Wallace said.
Haines, who splits her time between Homer Middle School and West Homer Elementary, said students are discussing volcanoes in other classes as well.
For example, math classes are looking at earthquake readings and trying to determine what type of seismic event would generate a tsunami.
Haines said students were “calm but highly curious” when they returned to class after Homer schools were closed during eruptions on Jan. 13.
“When they came back they were just very curious about what was taking place with the volcano. It makes it that much more fascinating when you have more information to work with,” Haines said.
“... When they’re on that Web site, they’re completely fascinated by it. If you gave them most of the day to do volcano activities, they would go for that.”
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