Natural Geologic Hazards

Movement of the plates and volcanic eruptions that resulted to earthquakes, the toppling down of soil,
and the degradation of rocks beneath the ground are some of the geological phenomena that shaped
the Earth today.

Volcanic Eruptions

Similar to mountains and hills, volcanoes are formed by either the converging of tectonic plates or the
accumulation of materials erupted through one or more openings on the Earth's surface. Most
volcanoes have steep sides; some can be gently sloping mountains or can be flat tablelands or plateaus
found above sea level and even along the ocean floor.

The materials that accumulate and form the volcanoes are molten rocks coming from below the Earth's
surface, known as magma. Magma is formed deep within the Earth under high temperature and
pressure, and rises through openings or cracks known as fissure vents. Molten rocks flowing out of
volcanic vents are called lava.

Landslides

Landslides form another natural hazard common in the Philippines. A landslide is a movement of mass
of earth (soil, mud, rocks, or debris) down a slope. It also pertains to the wide variety of processes
resulting from the downward and outward movement of slope-forming materials including rocks, soil,
artificial fill, or a combination of these. These processes may be categorized as erosion, but on a large
scale, they are known as landslide.

A common cause of landslide is slope saturation by water, which can occur in the form of heavy rainfall,
snowmelt, changes in ground-water levels, and water-level changes along coastlines, earth dams, and
the banks of lakes, reservoirs, canals, and rivers. In the Philippines, the usual cause of landslides is
rainfall, which can result to flooding that can lead to a landslide.

Landslides and floods are closely connected because both are triggered by

precipitation, runoff, and the saturation of ground by water.