The numerous annual volcanic eruptions that occur worldwide evidence the potential dangers they often create. Volcanoes are found across a wide variety of geologic settings, including subduction zones (i.e.: Andes, Cascades, Aleutian Islands) and hotspot settings (i.e.: Hawaii-Emperor Seamounts, Galapagos, Azores). Regardless of their location, history has demonstrated that volcanoes pose a vivid and real hazard to regional settlements and environments. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens (Washington - 1980), Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia - 1985), Mt. Hudson (Chile - 1991), Mt.

I introduce the concept of contour plots in the PUMAS example called Contouring and Topo Maps. Contouring is a fun way to help students develop estimation and spatial visualization skills. With contouring you imagine yourself looking down at a landscape and trying to represent hills and valleys on a flat map. The next step is to try to visualize what you see if you take a vertical slice, a cross section, out of your landscape.