Volcanoes

Grade 9 Earth and Space Science

Module 1
The Philippines is located along the Ring of
Fire. As a result, it is a home to many
volcanoes. The most famous among our
volcanoes is the Mayon Volcano that has
erupted last May 7, 2013 while a group of
hikers were exploring its beauty.
Who could forget the terrible eruption of
Pinatubo Volcano in 1992 after 600 years of
inactivity? Based on statistics, in the first five
years following the eruption, lahars destroyed
the homes of more than 100,000 people.
Lahars also covered about 120,000
hectares with sediment to an average depth
of about one meter, and floods spread rock
debris over a larger area.
The eruption also affected other countries
as its emissions in the atmosphere lowered
the air temperature.
According to the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS), our country is an ideal site
for any volcanic activity. It is therefore,
important for us to know how this natural
phenomenon happens to reduce the risks
and effects it may cause.
Classification of volcanoes
There are several ways by which volcanoes can be classified. PHIVOLCS have
adapted a system where the Philippine volcanoes as active or inactive.

Active volcanoes are those that have a record of eruption within the last 600
years or those that erupted 10, 000 years ago based on analyses of their its
materials.

Inactive volcanoes/Dormant, on the other hand, are those that have not
erupted for the last 10, 000 years and their physical form is being changed by
agents of weathering and erosion through formation of deep and long gullies.

Extinct – volcanoes that will no longer erupt.

Active volcanoes have a recent history of eruptions; they are
likely to erupt again.

Dormant volcanoes have not erupted for a very long time but may
erupt at a future time.

Extinct volcanoes are not expected to erupt in the future.

ACTIVE VOLCANOES
INACTIVE VOLCANOES

PINATUBO VOLCANO
Formation of Volcanoes
 Subduction provides a mechanism for introducing water-bearing
sediments into the mantle. As the subducted oceanic plate sinks and
heats up, water is gradually released from the sediments and minerals
within the plate ‘slab’. Water has the effect of reducing the melting
temperature of the mantle by about 60–100°C. It is this process that
allows the generation of magma at depth that feeds volcanoes that are
formed at the surface.
1) Magma Reservoir
It is a large pool of molten
rock found underneath the
Earth’s crust.

2) Lava
It is the molten rock or
magma that erupts from
the volcano.
3) Primary Vent
It is the primary opening in
the Earth’s surface through
which magma and
volcanic gases escape into
the atmosphere.
4) Throat
It is the uppermost portion of
the primary vent. The throat
is the entrance to the volcano
from where lava and
volcanic ash are ejected.
5) Conduit
It is the underground
passage through which
magma and volcanic gases
travel upwards towards the
vent.
6) Crater
Also known as a cone, it is
the mouth of the volcano.
7) Summit
Also known as the apex, it is
the highest or topmost part of
the volcano.
8) Secondary Vent
On large volcanoes, there
are multiple smaller outlets
through which magma
escapes, known as
secondary vents
9) Secondary Cone
Also known as a parasitic
cone, it forms around the
secondary vent that reaches
large volcanoes’ surface.
10) Lava Flow
It is a magma mass that
pours onto the Earth’s
surface during an eruption
involving moving lava and
its hard deposits.

11) Ash Cloud

It is made of small pieces of
pulverized rock, minerals,
and volcanic glass formed
during a volcanic eruption.
Cinder Cone Volcanoes
• Cinder cones are the simplest type of volcano.
• They are built from particles and blobs of congealed lava
ejected from a single vent. As the gas-charged lava is
blown violently into the air, it breaks into small
fragments that solidify and fall as cinders around the vent
to form a circular or oval cone.
• Most cinder cones have a bowl-shaped crater at the
summit and rarely rise more than a thousand feet or so
above their surroundings.
Cinder Cone Volcanoes

Taal Volcano Mt Babuyan

Composite volcanoes

• sometimes called stratovolcanoes.

• They are typically steep-sided, symmetrical
cones of large dimension built of
alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic
ash, cinders, blocks, and bombs and may
rise as much as 8,000 feet above their
bases.
Composite volcanoes

Mt Mayon Mt Canlaon
Shield Volcanoes
• Shield volcanoes, the third type of volcano, are
built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. Flow
after flow pours out in all directions from a
central summit vent, or group of vents, building
a broad, gently sloping cone of flat, domical
shape, with a profile much like that of a
warrior's shield.
Shield Volcanoes

Mt Apo Mt Canlaon
Lava Domes
A dome volcano is small and often forms inside
the caldera of a stratovolcano. After a large
eruption when large amount of magma has
emptied out of the magma chamber the summit of
the composite volcano collapses forming a
depression. Inside the depression magma oozes
out to begin forming a small lava dome.
Lava Domes

Mt St Helens Volcanic island of Iōjima

Volcanic
Eruption
Strombolian Eruption
Strombolian eruptions are distinct bursts of fluid lava from
the mouth of a magma-filled summit conduit. The explosions
usually occur every few minutes at regular or irregular
intervals. The explosions of lava, which can reach heights of
hundreds of meters, are caused by the bursting of large
bubbles of gas, which travel upward in the magma-filled
conduit until they reach the open air.
Vulcanian Eruption
A Vulcanian eruption is a short, violent, relatively small explosion of
viscous magma. This type of eruption results from the fragmentation
and explosion of a plug of lava in a volcanic conduit, or from the
rupture of a lava dome (viscous lava that piles up over a vent).
Vulcanian eruptions create powerful explosions in which material can
travel faster than 350 meters per second (800 mph) and rise several
kilometers into the air. They produce tephra, ash clouds, and
pyroclastic density currents (clouds of hot ash, gas and rock that flow
almost like fluids).
Phreatic or Hydrothermal
A phreatic eruption is made up of steam-driven
explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or
on the surface is heated by volcanic activity.

The water, once heated, begins to boil or can even flash

straight to steam, causing an explosion.
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.
Plinian
excessively explosive
type of eruption of gas and
pyroclastics, just like our Pinatubo
Volcano in Zambales.
PREPARING FOR A VOLCANIC ERUPTION:

• Develop an emergency plan including evacuation routes away

from the volcano.
• Familiarize yourself with LGU plans as well as PHIVOLCS
updates.
• Take note of hotlines and emergency numbers to call for help.
• Prepare an emergency supply kit consisting of food, water,
clothing, first aid supplies, mobile phone, whistle, flashlight, &
extra batteries.
• Have enough face masks for your household, as well as
medicines for those who need them.
IF AN ERUPTION IS IMMINENT:

• Follow the advice of local authorities.

• Waiting inside your house can be dangerous; it is better to
evacuate while there is still time.
• Bring survival kits.
IF THERE IS ASHFALL:

Volcanic ash consists of powder-sized to sand-sized particles that

have been blown into the air by an erupting volcano. Exposure to
falling ash may cause a number of health problems such as nose and
throat irritation, cough, bronchitis-like illness, breathing discomfort,
eye irritation, minor skin problems, and injuries/death due to roof
collapse or vehicular accidents resulting from slippery roads and
poor visibility. Those who have pre-existing health problems such
as bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma should especially avoid
exposure to volcanic ash.
Here are some ways to cope with ash fall:
• Minimize exposure to ash.
• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Keep doors and windows closed.
• Use damp curtains, blankets or clothing to prevent infiltration of ash
into the house.
• Use dust masks.
• Wear goggles or eyeglasses to protect eyes from irritation.
• Keep pets in closed shelters.
• Taking the necessary precautions, clear your roof of ash.
• Observe traffic notifications and road safety measures.