VOLCANOES

Module 1
VOLCANO
A hill or mountain formed around a vent of the earths crust through which molten rock from
beneath reaches the surface

PHIVOLCS
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
CLASSIFICATIONS OF VOLCANO
ACTIVE VOLCANO
- a volcano that has erupted within the last 600 years and are documented by man or those that
erupted 10,000 years ago based on analyses of datable materials
INACTIVE VOLCANO
- volcano that has no record of eruption
WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE A VOLCANO
Magma inside the volcano has high temperature. As the magma is continuously heated, it goes up.
As it rises, gas bubbles are developed. The gas bubbles are trapped and expand causing the molten
material to swell, resulting in a gradual increase in pressure within the volcano. When the pressure
exceeds the strength of the overlying rock, fracturing occurs. The resulting breaks lead to a
further drop in confining pressure, which in turn causes even more gas bubbles to form.
Parts of a Volcano
-Base,Summit & Slope
At the summit, there is an opening which may either be a crater or a caldera.

CRATER is a funnel-shaped opening at the top of a volcano

CALDERA is formed when a part of the wall collapses following an explosive eruption

Factors affecting eruptive style

the magmas temperature

its chemical composition

the amount of dissolved gases it contains

these factors affect magmas

Viscosity

is the property of the materials resistance to flow

is also described as the liquids thickness and stickiness

The viscosity of magma decreases with temperature. The higher the temperature of magma,
the lower is its viscosity. As lava flows, it cools and begins to harden, its ability to flow
decreases and eventually stops.

Magmas with high silica content are more viscous than those with low silica content, magma
that contains less silica is relatively fluid and travels far before solidifying.

The amount of gases contained in the magma affects its viscosity. Other factors being
equal, gas (mainly water vapor) dissolved in magma tends to increase its ability to flow.
Therefore, in near-surface environments, the loss of gases makes magma more viscous,
forming a dome or a columnar

Types of Volcanic Eruption

Phreatic or hydrothermal
is a stream-driven eruption as the hot rocks come in contact with water, short-lived,
characterized by ash columns but may be an onset for of a larger eruption
-Taal Volcano in Taal,Batangas
Phreatomagmatic
is a violent eruption due to the contact between water and magma, as a result, a large column
of very fine ash and high-speed and sideway emission of pyroclastics called base surges are
observed
Strombolian
a periodic weak to violent eruption characterized by fountain lava
-Irazu Volcano in Costa Rica
Vulcanian
characterized by tall eruption columns that reach up to 20 km high with pyroclastic flow and ash
fall tephra
Paricutin Volcano in Michoacan, Mexico
Plinian
excessively explosive type of eruption of gas and pyroclastics
Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales
Types of Volcanoes
Shield volcanoes

formed by the accumulation of lava that oozes out from the volcano where a broad, slightly

domed structure that resembles a warriors shield is formed due to the flow of non-viscous
lava
Mauna Loa in Hawaii

Cinder cones
-

- are built from ejected lava fragments, have a steep slope, wide crater and are the most
abundant of the three major volcano types

Mt. Paricutin in Mexico

Composite cones or stratovolcanoes

- are large, nearly perfect sloped structure formed from alternate solidification of both

lava and pyroclastic deposits

Mt. Mayon in Albay

Geothermal Energy
-the energy from the Earths interior since the Earth is said to be hot within
Geothermal Energy Generation

Two ways:

Geothermal Power Plants - heat from deep inside the Earth is used to produce
steam to generate electricity

Geothermal Heat Pumps - use the heat coming from close to the Earths surface to
heat water orprovide heat for buildings

Geothermal power plants are used to generate

electricity in:

Tiwi (Albay)

The following steps are followed to generate

electricity in a geothermal power plant:

Kidapawan (North Cotabato)

1. Wells are drilled deep into the Earth to pump

steam or hot water to the surface.

Calacan (Laguna)

Tongonan (Leyte)

Bago City (Northern Negros Occidental)

Valencia (Negros Oriental)

4. Cooling tower cools the steam which condenses

back to water.

Bacon (Sorsogon).

5. The cooled water is pumped back into the Earth to

begin the process again.

The Mak-Ban Geothermal Power Plant in Laguna

2. When the water reaches the surface, the drop in

pressure causes the water to turn into steam.
3. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a
generator that produces electricity.