What is VolcanoWorld ?

Volcanoes are one of the most dramatic phenomena in nature, attracting millions of visitors each year to US national parks, and fascinating millions more children in school science courses. We will greatly enrich the learning experiences of these targeted groups by delivering high quality remote sensing images, other data, and interactive experiments that add depth, variety and currency to existing volcano information sources.

VolcanoWorld brings modern and near real time volcano information to specific target audiences and other users of the Internet. VolcanoWorld draws extensively on remote sensing images (AVHRR, Landsat TM, Magellan, Gloria, etc.) and other data collections. We add value to these data by relating each image to geologic processes, and by encouraging users to analyze images with provided algorithms. VolcanoWorld has a very easy to use, Hypercard-like interface which will ultimately have these options:

  1. Update on volcanic activity
  2. Volcanic regions
  3. How volcanoes work
  4. Historical eruptions
  5. Submarine volcanoes
  6. Planetary volcanoes
  7. How to become a volcanologist
  8. Ask a volcanologist
  9. Volcano contests
  10. Further explorations
  11. About this volcano
Maps provide an intuitive interface for navigating to further information. Content areas will gradually include image-based interactive experiments that stimulate learning because they are fun. Because many of VolcanoWorld's visitors will be casual browsers, we want to design a fast, quickly interactive, intuitive interface that will perform well even on older computers.

Right now, VolcanoWorld is only available over the Internet, but later, much standard material will be provided on CDs and we will use the Internet for automated downloading of information to users' computers.

Our project is a prototype for the future distribution of a wide variety of remote sensing data to non-technical users when the Earth Observing System data stream is established. Our diverse and highly qualified team includes volcanologists, a grade school teacher, a curriculum development specialist, computer scientists, an artist, and staff from major volcanic parks.

To VolcanoWorld