WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

VOLCANOES ERUPT?
• Volcanic eruption is a process wherein molten rock
materials are emitted or ejected in the form of flowing
masses of lave or fragmental particles called pyroclastic
materials with gas from a crater, vent or fissure.
WHAT DETERMINES THE NATURE OF ERUPTION?

• There are primary factors affecting the volcanoes’

eruption style, namely:
• the magma’s temperature
• its chemical composition,
• and the amount of dissolved gases it contains.
WHAT DETERMINES THE NATURE OF ERUPTION?

• These factors can affect the magma’s viscosity in different ways.

• Viscosity is the property of the material’s resistance to flow.
• It is also described as the liquid’s thickness and stickiness.
• The more viscous and thicker the material is, the greater is its
resistance to flow.
• For instance, syrup is more viscous than water.
TEMPERATURE OF MAGMA AND ITS VISCOSITY

• The viscosity of the magma decreases with temperature.

• The higher the temperature of magma is, the lower its
viscosity.
• As lave flows, it cools and begins to harden, its ability to flow
decrease and eventually stops.
COMPOSITION OF MAGMA AND ITS VISCOSITY

• Magma with high silica content are more viscous than those
with low silica content. The magma that contains less silica is
relatively fluid and travels far before solidifying.
 AMOUNT OF GASES CONTAINED IN THE MAGMA AND ITS
VISCOSITY

• Gas (mainly water vapor) dissolved in the 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.
 VOLCANIC HAZARDS

• Volcanic hazards are phenomena arising from volcanic activity

that pose potential threat to persons or property in a given area
within a given period of time.
 VOLCANIC HAZARDS COMMON IN THE
PHILIPPINES ACTIVE VOLCANOES
1. Pyroclastic flows or surges- turbulent mass of ejected fragmented volcanic materials
(ash and rocks), mixed with hot gases that flow downslope are very high speed (more than
60 kph). Surges are the more dilute, more mobile derivatives or pyroclastic flows.
2. Lava flows- stream-like flows of incandescent molten rock
erupted from a crater of fissure. When lava is degassed and/ or
very viscous, it tends to extrude extremely slowly, forming lava
domes.
3. Ashfall or tephra fall- showers of airborne fine to
coarse-grained volcanic particles that fallout from the
plumes of a volcanic eruption; ash fall distribution/
dispersal is dependent on prevailing wind direction.
4. Volcanic gases- gases and aerosols released into
the atmosphere which include water vapor,
hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide,
hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride.
5. Lahars- rapidly flowing thick mixture of
volcanic sediments and water, usually triggered by
intense rainfall during typhoons, monsoons and
thunderstorms.
6. Secondary explosions- when ground water is converted
into steam and comes in contact with still hot pyroclastic
flow deposits at the slope of a volcano, this result from
collapse and remobilization of thick non-welded primary
pyroclastic flow deposits with minimal or no involvement of
water during its transport.
7. Tsunami/ seiches- sea waves or wave trains that are
generated by sudden displacement of water (could be
generated during undersea eruptions or debris
avalanches).
8. Debris avalanche or volcanic landslide-
massive collapse of a volcano, usually triggered by
an earthquake or volcanic eruption.
9. Ground fissuring- movement/ adjustment along
faults, accompanied by earthquake.
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Precursors of an Impending
Volcanic Eruption
 THE FOLLOWING ARE COMMONLY OBSERVED SIGNS THAT A VOLCANO IS ABOUT TO ERUPT.
THESE PRECURSORS MAY VARY FROM VOLCANO TO VOLCANO.

• Increase in the frequency of volcanic quakes with rumbling sounds; occurrence of volcanic
tremors.
• Increases steaming activity; change in color of steam emission from white to gray due to
entrained ash.
• Crater glow due to presence of magma at or near the crater.
• Ground swells (or inflation), ground tilt and ground fissuring due to magma intrusion.
• Localized landslides, rockfalls and landslides from the summit area not attributed to heavy
rains.
• Noticeable increase in the extend of drying up of vegetation around the volcano’s upper slope.
• Increase in the temperature of hot springs, wells (e.g. Bulusan and Canlaon) and crater lake (e.g.
Taal) near the volcano.
• Noticeable variation in the chemical content of springs, crater lakes within the vicinity of the volcano.
• Drying up of springs/ wells around the volcano.
• Development of new thermal areas and/ or reactivation of old ones; appearance of solfataras.
 EFFECTS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION

• Volcanic eruption is often associated with negative

effects it can cause loss of lives and properties.
• As the lave flows or pyroclastic materials are ejected in
the air, they can destroy anything in their way.
• Actually, it has good and bad side.
• For example, the eruption of Pinatubo in 1991, one of the longest volcanic eruptions,
has caused the decrease in the Earth’s surface temperature for almost two years. The
strong winds during its eruption spread the aerosol particles from the plume around the
globe. The result was measurable cooling of the Earth’s surface for a period of almost two
years.

Figure 12. Taal

Explosion, 2019
• Volcanoes also affect people positively. The eruption of Pinatubo Volcano has created
spectacular scenery in its wake. Likewise, the eruption of Musuan Volcano in
Bukidnon has produced very rich soil for farming years after its eruption in 1867.
People also became creative by making earthenware out of the ashfall from the Pinatubo
Volcano eruption.