Types and Severity of Hazards and Disasters

Volcanoes
• A volcano is an opening in the earth’s crust through which gases, molten
rocks materials (lava), ash, steam etc. are emitted outward in the course of an
eruption. 

• Such vents or openings occur in those parts of the earth’s crust where the
rock strata are relatively weak.

• Volcanic activity is an example of endogenic process. Depending upon the

explosive nature of the volcano, different land forms can be formed such as a
plateau (if the volcano is not explosive) or a mountain (if the volcano is
explosive in nature).
Volcanoes can be divided into three categories on the basis of their frequency of
eruptions. They are:

Active Volcanoes: Volcanoes which have erupted in the past and are presently in
an active state are known as active volcanoes. Examples : Mount Etna in Italy
and Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

Dormant Volcanoes: Volcanoes which have not erupted in the recent historical

period, but are likely to erupt after remaining inactive for a long period of time
are known as dormant volcanoes. Examples : Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mt.
Fuji in Japan.

Extinct Volcanoes: Volcanoes which were once active in the past geological
period, but are not likely to erupt in the present or in the future are known as
extinct volcanoes. Example: Mt. Kenya in Africa and Mt. Aconcagua in South
America.
 Major Volcanic Belts of the World

1. The Circum-Pacific Belt

• This is the most important belt of volcanoes and also called ‘Ring of Fire’.
• This belt consist of the Andes of western coasts of America, The Kurile islands,
Japan, the Philippines, Celebes, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New
Caledonia and New Zealand.
• Nearly 80 active volcanoes are found in this belt
• The volcanoes of the Aleutian islands, Hawaii Islands and Japan are found in
chains.
• Cotopaxi is the highest volcanic mountain (6035m) in the world.

2. The Mid-Continental Belt

• This belt has various volcanoes of the Alpine mountain chain, Mediterranean
Sea (Stromboli, Vesuvius and Etna etc.)
• The Rift valleys of Africa have volcanoes such as Kilimanjaro, Elgon, Birunga
etc.

3. The Mid – Atlantic Belt

• It includes the volcanoes of Mid-Atlantic Ridge, representing the splitting zone
of the American Plate moving westward away from the Eurasian plate moving
towards the east.
 Causes of Volcanic Eruption

1. The radioactive substances inside the earth that keep generating a lot of heat
through decomposition and chemical reactions. As a result the materials in
earth’s mantle is in constant pressure. This molten, semi-molten and
sometimes gaseous material appears on the earth at the first available
opportunity through a fissure or a vent.

2. The earthquake, for instance, may expose fault zones through which magma
may escape. Because of high pressure in the earth’s interior, the magma and
gases with great velocity is released through eruptions.

3. The rigid lithospheric slabs, known as plates, keep on moving in different

directions. When an oceanic plate collides with continental plate, the denser
oceanic plate is forced below the lighter continental plate. As the oceanic
plate plunges into the hot mantle, it gets heated and melting starts in the
upper mantle. The partial melting produces magma which rises to the surface
and a volcanic eruption takes place.
 Major Volcanic Events

Krakatoa, Indonesia

• Krakatoa volcano erupted in 1883, was the most destructive volcanic events in
recorded history.

• It is an volcanic island situated in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and
Sumatra in the Indonesia province of Lampung.

• Large areas of the Sunda Strait and Sumatra coast were affected by the pyroclastic
flows.

•Nearly 40,000 people died because of this eruption.

• After eruption Krakatoa Island entirely disappeared and the average northern
hemisphere temperature decreased by 1.2 degree celcius and the temperature did not
return to normal until 1888.

• In 1927, a new island emerged from the caldera formed in 1883, and the island is
called Anak Krakatoa, which means child of Krakatoa.
Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines

• The Mount Pinatubo is located, 80 km north of Manila, capital of Philippines.

• This eruption on June 12, 1991 was the second largest of the 20th century.

• Pinatubo has not erupted 500 years prior to its recent eruption in 1991.

• Over 800 people were killed and 58,000 people were evacuated from the area.

• Pyroclastic flows deposited measured 900 degree Fahrenheit.

• Sulphur dioxide spewed into the atmosphere and combined with water and oxygen
creating sulphuric acid which triggered ozone layer depletion in South Pole.
Mount St. Helens, U.S.A

• Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range, along the west coast of
Washington State, USA.

• The volcano is 30,000 years old.

• Mount St. Helens erupts violently about once every 3000 to 4000 years.

• This volcano erupted most recently in 18th May 1980.

 Consequences of Volcanic Eruption

• Volcanic eruption can change the temperature of the atmosphere and cause a
decrease in solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface.

• Large volcanic eruption can affect earth’s climate.

• The weight of falling ash can collapse structures, bury crops, and damage aircraft
engines, burn down houses, buildings, roads and fields can get covered with ash.

• Sulphur dioxide can affect water bodies, crops, irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat
and can cause respiratory problems, headaches and fatigue.

• Hot volcanic materials can melt the snowcap on the mountains, causing
devastating floods.
Thank You