{"id":54389,"date":"2025-10-14T05:31:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T20:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=54389"},"modified":"2025-10-14T05:31:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T20:31:05","slug":"volcanic-showdown-discover-the-unique-secrets-of-mt-fuji-and-kilauea-through-google-maps-3d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=54389&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Volcanic Showdown! Discover the Unique Secrets of Mt. Fuji and K\u012blauea through Google Maps 3D"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Kuwako, Science Trainer. Every Day is an Experiment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What shape comes to mind when you hear the word “volcano”? Chances are, most of us picture that beautiful, straight-up cone shape, like Mount Fuji. But did you know that the world is also home to volcanoes as flat as a giant pancake, and others that look like rugged, rocky mountains?<\/p>\n

This time, we’re going on a cross-time and cross-space volcanic expedition using the familiar Google Maps (Google Earth)! With just a computer or a smartphone, comparing volcanoes at the same scale will bring the Earth’s dynamic activities right into your hands.<\/p>\n

Take a Time-Space Trip with Google Earth! Compare Volcanic Shapes
\nGoogle Maps and Google Earth feature a 3D viewing mode that lets you see the Earth in three dimensions. Using this feature, you can observe volcanoes around the world from various angles, just as if you were flying over them.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Open Google Earth (https:\/\/earth.google.com\/<\/a>) in your web browser.<\/li>\n
  2. Look for the View Settings button in the bottom right corner of the screen.<\/li>\n
  3. If the current view is “2D,” this button will display “3D” or “Earth” (or a globe icon).<\/li>\n
  4. Clicking this button switches the view to 3D mode, tilting the map and displaying buildings and terrain in three dimensions.<\/li>\n
  5. You can freely tilt and rotate the map using your mouse or keyboard controls to explore.<\/li>\n
  6. You can tilt the view by holding the Shift key and dragging the mouse. Full 3D Mode: Hold the Ctrl key and drag the mouse on the map to move the view freely at any angle.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We’ll be comparing three unique volcanoes\u2014from Japan, Hawaii, and back to Japan\u2014at the same scale. Their surprising differences are sure to excite you!<\/p>\n

    Case 1: The Beautiful Cone, Mount Fuji (Japan)
    \nFirst up is Japan’s symbol, Mount Fuji. When you view it in 3D, it has a beautiful cone shape\u2014unmistakably a “mountain.” The ridge lines that sweep up from the base to the summit are nothing short of magnificent.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Take a look at the scale bar in the bottom right. We’ll use this to compare it with the other mountains.<\/p>\n

    Height: approx. 3,776m<\/b><\/p>\n

    Diameter (Base): approx. 35km\u201340km<\/b><\/p>\n

    Volcanoes with this kind of well-formed conical shape are called stratovolcanoes. They are structured like a giant mille-feuille (a thousand layers), formed by alternating layers of viscous lava and volcanic ash\/pebbles piling up during eruptions. This is precisely what gives them their stunning shape.<\/p>\n

    Case 2: The Vast Plain? K\u012blauea Volcano (Hawaii)
    \nNext, let’s zoom across the Pacific to see K\u012blauea Volcano in Hawaii. When displayed at the same scale as Mount Fuji… what do you see? Doesn’t it look less like a mountain and more like an endlessly spreading black plateau? It’s so flat, you might not believe it’s a volcano!<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Elevation (near summit): approx. 1,247m<\/b><\/p>\n

    Diameter: extremely vast (the entire island of Hawaii is made up of multiple massive volcanoes)<\/b><\/p>\n

    K\u012blauea is a prime example of a shield volcano. As the name suggests, it has gentle slopes, resembling a shield placed upside down on the ground. This shape is created because the erupted lava is very fluid and flows great distances, like water, before cooling. The blackish ground is characteristic of this iron-rich lava, called basalt.<\/p>\n

    Case 3: The Little Giant, Sh\u014dwa-Shinzan (Japan)
    \nFinally, let’s return to Japan to look at Sh\u014dwa-Shinzan in Hokkaido. When viewed at the same scale as Mount Fuji and K\u012blauea, it looks as tiny as a grain of rice.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Height: approx. 398m<\/b><\/p>\n

    Diameter: approx. 1km<\/b><\/p>\n

    However, zoom in closely, and you’ll see a powerful, rugged mass of rock thrusting up, like a clenched fist.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Its color, in contrast to K\u012blauea, is rather whitish. This type of volcano is known as a lava dome. It forms when the erupted lava is extremely viscous, like thick taffy. Instead of flowing far, it cools and solidifies right there, piling up into a mound. The whitish color indicates a high content of silica, the component that makes the lava so sticky.<\/p>\n

    The Secret Behind the Shapes: Magma’s “Personality”!
    \nWhy do these volcanoes have such different shapes and colors, even though they’re all volcanoes? The biggest secret lies in the difference in the underground magma’s viscosity\u2014or its “personality.”<\/p>\n

    K\u012blauea (Shield Volcano): Runny magma, like water \u2192 Spreads out over a wide area<\/p>\n

    Mount Fuji (Stratovolcano): Viscous magma, like honey \u2192 Lava and ash layers pile up alternately<\/p>\n

    Sh\u014dwa-Shinzan (Lava Dome): Extremely sticky magma, like taffy \u2192 Piles up in place without flowing<\/p>\n

    This difference in magma’s personality creates the unique shapes and histories of each volcano. With Google Earth, you can become a volcano explorer today! Be sure to take a look at the “faces” of various volcanoes around the world and uncover the secrets of their individuality!<\/p>\n

    Inquiries and Requests
    \nBring the wonder and fun of science closer to home! We’ve put together easy-to-understand explanations of fun, at-home science experiments and tips. Feel free to search around!
    \n\u30fbThe content of Kagaku no Netach\u014d (Science Idea Notebook) is now a book. Find out more     here<\/a>
    \n\u30fbAbout the operator, Ken Kuwako:     here<\/a>
    \n\u30fbFor various requests (writing, lectures, experiment classes, TV supervision, appearances, etc.):     here<\/a>
    \n\u30fbArticle updates are posted on     X<\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>We post experiment videos on the Kagaku no Neta Channel<\/a>!<\/p>\n

    \uff14\u6708\u306e\u30a4\u30c1\u30aa\u30b7\u5b9f\u9a13\uff01<\/h3>\r\n