Homework assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Homework - Assignment Example Plate, the Pacific Plate, the Caroune Plate. The North American and Pacific plates are sliding apart and past each other, Pacific moving left and North American moving right. The Juan de Fuca Plate is sliding underneath the North American Plate, and melting (Watson, 1997). There are no active volcanoes in the Eastern US because there are presently no active plate boundaries (no shifting and sliding tension). There is, however, evidence that this was not always the case, and that conditions used to yield volcanic activity, but it was long ago (Watson, 1997). Mt. Ranier is an active volcano, which has erupted severely, many times over many centuries. It last erupted in 19894-95 and is resting, at the moment, but this temporary situation lulls people into feeling safe when, in fact, they are not safe. Someday it will no doubt erupt again (Driedger & Scott, 2008). This will cause snow and ice to melt, which picks up mud and a lot of destructive force, or large landslides can occur and act in a similar manner. These are called lahars, and they act like a rapidly oncoming, thick wall of concrete. Enough force can carry it all the way to Puget Sound, so many people along the way can be damaged, since there are densely populated areas along the way. Infrastructure would also be destroyed (Driedger & Scott, 2008). The anytime-now probability of lahars from Mt. Ranier activating is actually a very strong and serious risk. About 80,000 people, their homes, businesses, roads, bridges, etc. would be affected. Ashes from the volcano can be dangerous for aircraft visibility and respiratory risk. Utility and transportation systems can be impacted, and it can be rather costly to clean up. One of the most dangerous aspects is that there would likely be no warning, or insufficient warning to prevent mass death and damage