Physical GeographyName(s) ____________________________
Class Activity – Topic 14 – A Day in Pompeii – 17 pts.
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces Exhibition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_3ggKg0Bc
During this activity, you will become an observer during the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in
79 ACE near Pompeii, Italy. Launch Youtube and type in the phrase “A Day in Pompeii”. It is the
video that is 8 minutes long. Watch the animation carefully, listen to the sounds and answer the
questions below. You can stop and restart the video as you work on your answers. Refer to your
lecture notes from Topic G4 – Volcanoes, and the accompanying slide deck to help you. You
might also like to find a diagram showing the position of the volcano and surrounding cities. Note
that there was no lava to the south in Pompeii and there was both ash and lava to the north in
Herculaneum. Use your own words to describe your impressions. Do not simply rewrite what is
shown on the screen. I know what it says!
Be careful and stay clear of falling debris!
1.
At approximately what time did Mt. Vesuvius start to rumble? What signaled that
something was about to happen? [1 pt.]
2.
1 p.m. – What begins to happen? Why? Was it an earthquake or simply the rumbling of the
volcano? Explain your thinking. [1 pt.]
3.
3 p.m. – What is happening? Describe the material that is coming out of the volcano.
What material is landing on the houses? [Hint: listen to sounds] Why are the roof shingles
continuing to fall off? [2 pts.]
4.
5 p.m. – Oh my! There is fire everywhere!! What is causing these fires? [There are at least
two possibilities] [2 pts.]
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5.
8 p.m. – Describe the condition of the city. What effect did the ash have on the stability of
the buildings?
[1 pt.]
6.
1 a.m. – Where is the glow in the background coming from? Watch carefully – what comes
roaring down the slope of the volcano in the distance? Using a map or diagram of the
area, what city was likely buried by this occurrence? [2 pts.]
The next series of events are historically accurate and preserved in the rock record. Watch
closely, watch again if necessary. Nearly 24 hours have passed and the volcano is still very
active.
7.
6 a.m. – Now what is happening? What is this phenomenon called? Describe it.
[2 pts.]
8.
This material in the phenomenon you identified in #7 is very different from the material that
first buried the city in #3. And, depending on what you identified in #6, it is different from
that as well. Make a short list to describe and explain these three differences. [2 pts.]
9.
Use the Internet to find the names of two cities other than Pompeii and the one you
named in #6 that were affected by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 ACE.
a) What happened to these cities? b) Have they been excavated? c) What has been
discovered? Explain. [2 pts.]
10.
How might things be different if such an eruption were to happen today? Think carefully
and give me a reasonable answer.
[2 pts.]
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**For your added reference, a snack shop in Pompeii was discovered in December, 2020, this
one is in remarkably terrific condition. It even has food deep inside the amphorae in the counters.
Graffiti on the wall of a home nearby reads 16 days before the “calends” of November, or in
modern dating – October 17th!! What does this mean?
It means that the date of August 24, 79 ACE might not be correct after all. Wow!
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