Science Reviewer

Volcanoes
Volcano – is a vent, hill, or mountain that erupts, releasing molten rocks, rock fragments, and gaseous
materials.

Anatomy of a Volcano

Types of Volcanoes According to Shape:

Cinder cone – volcanoes re formed from pyroclastic fragments and volcanic ashes that form and solidify
around the main vent to form a cone, which can be either circular or oval.
Example: Smith Volcano (Mount Babuyan), Taal Volcano
Composite volcanoes – also known as stratovolcanoes, are typically symmetrical cones that re steep and
my rise as high as 2 400 meters / 8 000 feet from the ground. Composite volcanoes have acidic and sticky
lava, which allows the lava to solidify without traveling very far. Composite volcanoes are usually
dormant for many years that they can be considered extinct.
Example: Mount Fuji, Mount Matutum, Mount Mayon
Shield volcanoes – are formed from non-acidic basaltic lava flows of high viscosity producing broad
sloping sides and shield-like structures. Shield volcanoes are not very explosive and are among the largest
volcanoes in the world.

Types of Volcanoes According to Eruptive History:

Active - these volcanoes have erupted during historical times within the last 600 years. In addition, they
have erupted at least once in the past 10 000 years based on the analysis of materials from volcanic
deposits.
Examples: Mount Mayon in Albay, Bicol; Mt. Biliran, in Leyte, Visayas; Mt. Hibok-hibok in Camiguin,
Mindanao
Dormant – these volcanoes are active but not erupting; however, they are expected to erupt anytime
soon.
Example: Mahagnao Volcano in Burauen, Leyte
Extinct – These volcanoes have not had any eruption in the past 10 000 years and are expected not to
erupt anymore in the future. These volcanoes have been intensively weathered and eroded.
Example: Mount Guinsiliban in Camiguin Island

Phases of a Volcanic Eruption

Preparation phase – the magma chamber is being filled with magma. An increase in seismic activity and
steam or smoke coming out from the volcano can be observed.

Eruption phase – the pressure will start to build up inside the magma chamber and the energy starts to
increase for eruption. The magma is then pushed up to the opening of the volcano due to the explosion of
pent-up gases, releasing rock fragments, pyroclastic materials, gases, and ashes onto Earth’s surface. The
magma flows out of the volcano and cools to become lava.

Ending phase – after the eruption, the magma chamber is now empty, which may trigger the walls of the
conduit to weaken and to collapse into a crater or a caldera.
Types of Volcanic Eruptions
Effusive eruptions – involve the outpouring of basaltic magma that is relatively low in viscosity and low
in gas content.
Explosive eruptions – involve magma of high viscosity and high gas content.

Volcanic eruptions are commonly divided into six major types:

Hawaiian type – fluid basaltic lava is thrown into the air, creating a lava fountain or lava flows. The lava
flows create gentle slopes, which then form shield volcanoes that are usually larger or covers a large area.
Strombolian type - there is a burst of glowing lava due to the bursting of gas bubbles at the vents of the
volcano. This eruption creates eruptive products such as scoria (hardened chunks of bubbly lava) and
lava bombs.
Vulcanian type - the eruption is short, explosive, and violent. This happens when the pressure is enough
to blow off the overlying layer of solidified lava over the entrapped gases in magma.
Plinian eruption - is the most violent among all types of volcanic eruptions. It releases huge amounts of
gases and ashes at great speeds. Plinian eruptions are usually destructive to land and property.
Phreatic eruption - is a steam-driven explosion. When magma heats the surface or ground water, the
water begins to boil or directly produce steam that causes the explosion. Phreatic eruptions often precede
or accompany another type of volcanic eruption.
Phreatomagmatic eruption - involves the eruption of magma that reacts to external water; the interaction
between magma and water results in an explosion that releases steam and pyroclastic fragments into
Earth’s surface.
Materials Extruded during Eruptions
Lava – refers to magma (molten rock) that has been expelled onto Earth’s surface.
Tephra – refers to the pyroclastic materials and rock fragments that are being expelled during volcanic
eruptions.
Volcanic gases – are also being released during volcanic eruptions. These gases include water vapor,
carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
Effects of Volcanic Eruptions
Good Effects
 The high levels of heat and activity underneath Earth’s surface can provide an alternative source
of energy (geothermal energy).
 The lava and ash deposits after eruptions provide valuable nutrients to the soil, making it fertile
and good for agriculture.
 Volcanic eruptions may cause long-term effects on climate and may cause global cooling.
Harmful Effects
 Volcanic ashes and gases ejected into the air may cause breathing problems when inhaled.
 Volcanic eruptions cause damage to crops and properties and may endanger the lives of humans
and animals near the area.
 If ash and mud mix with water, a fast-moving mudflow, also known as lahar, may destroy
properties and lives.

Geothermal Energy – is the energy derived from the center of Earth. Geothermal comes from
the Greek geo, which means “Earth,” and thermal, which means “heat.”
Pacific Ring of Fire – also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is where 75% of the world’s
volcanoes.
 In conventional geothermal energy, steam from natural resources such as geysers or high-
pressure depths are used to drive electric turbines, whereas in volcanic geothermal energy,
scientists and researchers are using the heat from supercritical water. Supercritical water is
believed to have greater energy than conventional steam, which is produced when molten rock
and water interact with each other.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy:

Climate – long term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region.
Factors affecting the climate:
 The latitude of a location – the amount of solar energy per unit of Earth’s surface area
depends on latitude.

 The altitude of an area – temperature decreases as altitude increases in the troposphere.

(high elevation)
  Rain shadow – an area of low rainfall on the downward slope of a mountain is called
rain shadow ( warm and moist)

 Large bodies of water – specific heat is the amount (joules) of thermal energy needed to
raise the temperature of 1kg of material by 1°C. The high specific heat of water causes
the climates along coastline to remain more constant than those in the middle of the
continent.
Classifying Climate
Wladimir Koppen – German Scientist, used the regions temperature, precipitation, and
native vegetation.
World Climates
Polar Climate
 a cold year-round
 Minimal precipitation
Continental Climate
 Warm summers, cold winters
 Moderate precipitation
Dry Climate
 Hot summers
Mild Climate
 Warm summers, mild winters
 High precipitation
 Humid
Tropical Climate
 Warm year-round
 High precipitation
Microclimate – Ionized climate that is different from the climate of the longer area
surrounding it.
Affects living organisms – have adaptations for the climates where they live.
Global Climate Phenomena
Monsoons – is a seasonal shift in the direction of the prevailing winds of a region. It usually
causes dry and wet seasons especially the tropics.
Amihan – usually occurs in the country from late October to March and affects the eastern part
of the country. It brings cool dry air that helps weaken cyclones.
Habagat – brings heavy rains that affect the western part of the country from July to September.
It is usually characterized by a hot and humid weather with heavy rainfall.
Global warming – refers to the gradual increase of the overall temperature of Earth’s
atmosphere. Global warming is primarily caused by the increase in the concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse effect – the sun’s energy that reaches Earth's atmosphere is being absorbed to warm
the planet, some are being reflected, and some are radiated back y the greenhouse gases. The
main greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and
chlorofluorocarbon.
Tropical cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons
Tropical cyclone – refers to the rapid rotating storm formed over tropical oceans.
Hurricane – is a type of tropical cyclone that forms over tropical or subtropical waters. It has
winds of 74mph or more. The term hurricane is used if it originates in the North Atlantic, Central
North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific.
Typhoon – is a mature tropical cyclone that usually originates in the northwest Pacific. Typhoons
usually have wind speeds of around 118 to 220 kph.
Climate change – is described as the change in the average weather patterns that affects Earth’s
regional and global climates.