1. When did Mt. Rainier last have a significant eruption?

2005
1980
1865
~1000 years ago
Your lab worksheet stated that reports of
eruptions in the 1800s were most likely steam
eruptions, and not significant eruptions. A
significant eruption is a magmatic eruption that
forms volcanic deposits like lava flows,
pyroclastic flows, ash, pumice, etc. The last
magmatic Mt. Rainier eruption occurred around
1,000 years ago. This information is found on the
USGS Volcanic Hazards Webpage.
(http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mount_raini
er/)
Score: 3 of 3
2. What primary volcanic hazard does Mount Rainier pose to Orting Washington?

Lava flows
Lahars
Pyroclastic flows
Caldera collapse
None of the above
Orting is located along a river valley where lahars are the top volcanic hazard. The town is
outside the "near volcanic hazard zone" where lava and pyroclastic flows are a danger.

Score: 3 of 3
3. According to the map, what is the shortest recurrence of lahar events?

<10 years
< 100 years
Every 100 years to 500 years
Every 500 to 1000 years
Every 1000 years to 5000 years
The shortest recurrence interval is less than 100 years. As seen from the image below, all
of these frequent and small lahars occurred near the summit of Mt. Rainier. Image from the
USGS Fact Sheet

Score: 0 of 3
4. The summit area of Mt. Rainier is covered to a large extent by glacial ice. A small eruption of lava flows
within 1 km of the summit could melt the glaciers ice. Briefly explain the chain of events that would
cause a lahar that might threaten Orting.
As many of the communities surrounding Mt. Rainier are atop older lahar deposits, a significant amount
of melted glaciers could pose a serious threat of destruction by lahars. A lahar started under these
conditions would carry a lot of force, and would only gain momentum, catching more and more debris
as it moves downward. Also, many slopes have been weakened by hydrothermal alteration of rocks,
which now contain abundant water and slippery clay.
Rubric:

Score

Max Score

Step 1:
Glaciers
melt.

Step 2:
Lahar fills
with debris.

Description
One of the most important things to understand about lahar
formation is where its trigger water comes from. In your
reading assignment this week you read: "They (lahars) can
occur both during an eruption and when a volcano is quiet.
The water that creates lahars can come from melting snow
and ice (especially water from a glacier melted by a
pyroclastic flow or surge), intense rainfall, or the break-out of
a summit crater lake". In the case of the question example, the
water has come from melting of glaciers.
Lahars are filled with volcanic debris (anything that shoots
out of a volcano). Your reading states, "Some lahars contain
so much rock debris (60 to 90% by weight) that they look like
fast-moving rivers of wet concrete. Close to their source,
these flows are powerful enough to rip up and carry trees,
houses, and huge boulders miles downstream. Farther

Score

Max Score

Step 3: The
lahar moves
quickly.

Description
downstream they entomb everything in their path in mud."
One of the most frightening aspects of lahars is their
incredible speed. In your reading assignment this week you
read: "Lahars rush down valleys and stream channels at
speeds of 20 to 40 mph and can travel more than 50 miles."
Specifically in Orting, you would only have a little more than
half an hour to evacuate before a lahar from a Mt Rainier was
on your back door.

Total: 9

Score: 9 of 9
5. What is the approximate distance between the summit of Mt. Rainier and the town of Orting, in miles?
27

Score: 3 of 3
6. How much time would there be to evacuate once a Lahar started, in hours?
.5

According to your lab worksheet, lahars typically travel 40-50 mph. For our example we will
use a speed of 50 mph and the distance of 26.5 miles (image from question #5).

Score: 3 of 3
7. How many rivers border Orting? (Make sure you have the boundary of Orting visible.)

0
1
2
3
4

Score: 3 of 3
8. How many bridges are there across the rivers around Orting? (Don't go up or downstream beyond the
borders of Orting.)

1
2
3
4
5

Score: 0 of 3
9. What is your acceptable risk for volcanic hazards? Would you live in Orting? Why or why not? How
would you evacuate your family away from the volcano and the rivers if you lived in Orting? Describe a
complete and practical plan.
I would definitely not live in Orting. The chance of a catastrophic disaster is just too high. Granted, the
chance of a possible eruption is not terribly great, but the surrounding area is just too set up for a lahar
based disaster, that even general floods are an issue.
One of the biggest issues I'd have is concerning a possible evacuation is the proximity of my family
members. If my children are at school, it'd be difficult to locate them and quickly leave, as other kids
would need evacuation. This makes leaving incredibly difficult, and the potential panic of other
individuals augments the chance of disaster.
To prepare, I'd always make sure that decent communication lines would remain open, such as cell
phones, active and close neighbors, etc. Also, I'd give certain individuals my consent to help my family
evacuate, so that if they were with friends, I could trust them to head in the right direction and meet up
in the same place.
I'd also familiarize myself with local protocol, such as the monitoring and emergency planning, so that I
would be notified as soon as would be possible. I'd make sure that indispensable personal items would
be easy to transport and easily accessible, so that a grab-and-go would be possible.
Rubric:

Score
2

Max Score
2
What is your
acceptable risk of
volcanic hazards?

Description
Is it an acceptable risk for you to live near a cinder
cone volcano but not a stratovolcano? Is it only
acceptable to live near a volcano that is dormant?
Your answer should be thoughtful. Acceptable risk
actually has a specific definition. "Acceptable risk

Score

Max Score

Description
refers to the level of human and property loss that can
be tolerated. . .For instance, the risk of flooding can
be accepted once every 500 years but it is not
unacceptable in every ten years."
http://definitions.uslegal.com/a/acceptable-risk/ How
could you apply the definition of acceptable risk to
your answer?
Would you live in
Orting?
Why would you live
in Orting, or why
wouldn't you live in
Orting?
Describe your
practical plan for
evacuating your
family from the
volcanoes and rivers.
The plan should
have at least 3
specific details (such
as a ready 24 hour
kit, a meeting place,
a route out of town,
the speed at which
the evacuation would
have to take place,
etc.) for one point
each.

Yes or No answers.
Answers can vary, but there should be at least one
reason as to why you would, or would not live in
Orting.
The largest volcanic disaster risk of living in Orting is
the risk of lahar flows. A good plan takes into account
the speed that these lahars could travel after an
eruption, and the fact that there are few bridges to
escape the city. (Just 1 main bridge). Remember that
in Orting, you would have little more than half an
hour to evacuate before lahars from Mt. Rainier were
in the city. Does your plan include a way to contact
all members of your family? Do you have a meeting
place? Do you have a safe place to flee to? The city
of Orting has a website with a lahar evacuation plan.
How does your evacuation plan compare?
http://cityoforting.org/services/emergencymanagement/lahar-information/

Total: 9

Score: 9 of 9
10. Thinking of the movie Dantes Peak, list the thing in the movie that was most realistic and supported
by volcano facts (questions 10 through 14 all deal with the movie Dante's Peak). If you have chosen
to watch the alternative movie, please paste your report in the box below, and skip to question #15.
I think that they captured the actual process of a volcanic eruption well. They portrayed certain elements, s

Score: 3 of 3
11. Thinking of the movie Dantes Peak, list the thing in the movie that was most unrealistic and least
supported by volcano facts

grees Fahrenheit. Also, the viscosity of the lava would make gathering speed nearly useless, as the thickness would hold back any mobility.

Score: 3 of 3
12. Thinking of the movie Dantes Peak, are there ash and pyroclastics present during the eruption?
Would they be consistent with a stratovolcano?

No, the movie didnt depict ash or pyroclastics. Yes, they are very characteristic of
a stratovolcano
Yes the movie did depict ash and pyroclastics. No, they are not a characteristic of a
stratovolcano
No, the movie didnt depict ash or pyroclastics. No, they are not a characteristic of
a stratovolcano
Yes, the movie did depict ash and pyroclastics. Yes, they are very characteristic of
a stratovolcano
The movie did depicted ash but not pyroclastics. This is very characteristic of a
stratovolcano
Score: 1 of 1
13. Thinking of the movie Dantes Peak, was the lava that was depicted (for example in the scene where
the stolen Forest Service truck gets stuck in the lava) basaltic or rhyolitic and how can you tell?

Basaltic because the lava had the consistency of peanut butter (not Adam's) and
was dark colored when cooled.
Rhyolitic because the lava had the consistency of peanut butter (not Adam's) and
was dark colored when cooled.
Basaltic because the lava had the consistency of honey and was dark colored when
cooled.
Rhylotic because the lava had the consistency of honey and was light colored when
cooled.
Score: 0 of 3
14. Thinking of the movie Dantes Peak, does the movie discuss the plate tectonic setting? Is it realistic?

Yes, it mentions the location so that one can infer the plate tectonic setting. No,
you are not likely to get a stratovolcano there.
Yes, it mentions the location so that one can infer the plate tectonic setting. Yes,
that is exactly where one would find a stratovolcano.
No, it never mentions the location so the plate tectonic setting is a complete
mystery. No, that isnt realistic because geologist are really big on locations and
plate tectonics.
Plate tectonics are hinted at, but it is hard to tell if a stratovolcano would be
realistic based on only the hints.
Score: 0 of 3
15. In 3 Nephi, what is the most convincingly volcanic phenomena described?

r, as well as volcanic gases, would have prevented even dry wood to catch fire. All of these are good reasons to suspect volcanic activity.

Score: 3 of 3
16. Did you fully complete the Guided Lab Worksheet before beginning this Lab Check?

Yes
No
Score: 4 of 4