Volcanic Hazards

Objectives
• After going through this module, you are
expected to:
• 1. explain various volcano-related
hazards;
• 2. recognize signs of an impending
volcanic eruption; and
 Activity 1 : Local Volcanoes and Historical
Volcanic Eruptions
• This activity will let you explore local volcanoes
and revisit some of the volcanic eruptions that
have left significant impacts to some areas in the
country. Your answers will be useful in the
succeeding activities.
• 1. Make a research about the following volcanoes:
Bulusan, Kanlaon, Hibok-hibok, Mayon, Pinatubo,
and Taal. 2. Collect the following information: (a)
location of the volcano, (b) history of eruptions, (c)
last recorded eruption, and (d) description of
impacts of eruptions. 3. Organize your answers
using the table provided below.
Volcano Location Recorded Most Recent Description
Eruptions Eruption of Impacts

Bulusan

Kanlaon

Hibok-hibok

Mayon

Pinatubo

Taal
 Lava flow

Lahar

Volcanic Hazards

Ash fall Landslides

Pyroclastic flow
 Landslide
• Gravitational force “pulls” unstable
material down slope
• Fills canyons and valleys with debris
 Lateral Blast: extreme
pyroclastic flow
• In the case of Mt. St. Helens, the landslide
“uncorked” the vent.
• Gas and debris were released under
tremendous force
• Burns and destroys anything in its path
 Lateral Blast

• Large area completely

devastated (23 X19
miles)
• Trees knocked down
• Vegetation burned off
Pyroclastic flow: hot gas propels
pyroclastic debris
Montserrat, 1997
Gravitational force pulls
hot gas and pyroclastic
debris down slope from
the initial vertical
eruption.
 Pyroclastic Flow

• Mt. Pinatubo,
Philippines
• 1991
• May reach 100 miles
per hour
• Burns or suffocates
anything in its path
 Vertical Eruptions: Plinian
• If the initial eruption is vertical the force
sends debris into the stratosphere
Global cooling: debris blocks
sunlight
 Mt.
Pinatubo

Major eruptions
blocking Sun’s
Cooled global temperatures by .5-.6
radiation degrees Centigrade
 Ash fall

Photomicrograph of ash from the Mt.

• Acts as an abrasive Tehama eruption (Lassen Peak)
• Clogs machinery,
covers vegetation,
irritates lungs and
eyes

Ash deposited associated with the

eruption of the Long Valley Caldera
 Lahars
• Remobilized ash, rock and debris by water
• Water source needed: rain, snow melt
Lahars: Mt. Pinatubo
 Lava Flow
• Destroys everything in path
• People and animals can usually escape
 Gas Emissions
• Sometimes gas release is concentrated
and toxic to vegetation and people

Horseshoe Lake near Mammoth, California

 Carbon dioxide leaked out of
Lake Nyos, Africa suffocating
1700 people and all animal life.
 SIGNS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION

From DOST-PHIVOLCS, the following are commonly observed signs

that a volcano is about to erupt. These precursors may vary from
volcano to volcano.
1.Increase in the frequency of volcanic quakes with rumbling sounds;
occurrence of volcanic tremors.
2.Increased steaming activity; change in color of steam emission from
white to gray due to entrained ash.
3.Crater glow due to presence of magma at or near the crater.
4.Ground swells, ground tilt and ground fissuring due to magma intrusion.
5.Localized landslides, rockfalls and landslides from the summit area not
attributable to heavy rain.
6.Noticeable increase in the extent of drying up of vegetation around the
volcano's upper slopes
 SIGNS OF VOLCANIC
ERUPTION
• 7. Increase in the temperature of hot
springs and crater lake near the volcano.
8. Noticeable variation in the chemical
content of springs, crater lakes within the
vicinity of the volcano.
• 9. Drying up of springs/wells around the
volcano.
• 10. Development of new thermal areas
and/or reactivation of old ones;
appearance of solfataras
 ACTIVITY
• 1. Watch a news or read a news article
about Taal volcanic eruption. Take note of
the warning signs reported and observed
by the residents interviewed.
• 2. Write a brief narrative report about that
incident. Include the date, type of hazards,
its impacts, and areas affected.
• Accuracy --------------- 8pts
• Content ----------------- 8pts
• Clarity ------------------ 4pts
THANK YOU

BRAVO BASTE
 QUIZ #2: VOLCANO HAZARDS; TRUE OR FALSE
• 1. High concentrations of CO2 which is colorless and odorless can
be lethal to people, animals and vegetation.
• 2. Lava flows are considered the most dangerous type of hazard
from a volcano and is always a big threat to human lives.
• 3. Pyroclastic flows and surges are potentially highly destructive
owing to their mass, high temperature, high velocity and great
mobility.
• 4. Ash from volcanoes are also abrasive, because of this, ash
suspended in air is also dangerous for airplanes as this can cause
the engines to fail if the suspended ash is encountered by the
airplane.
• 5. Lahars are rapidly flowing thick mixture of volcanic sediments
(from the pyroclastic materials) and water, usually triggered by
intense rainfall during typhoons, monsoons and thunderstorms.
 QUIZ #2: VOLCANO HAZARDS; TRUE OR FALSE

• 6. Aside from instrumental monitoring, people living near volcanoes

on their own, may observe premonitory events before an eruption
such as intensified steaming activity.
• 7. As the volcano unrest progresses into an eruption, volcanic
earthquakes not only increase in number but the number of
earthquakes felt by many people become more and more frequent.
• 8. Permanent Danger Zone is a delineated and identified are where
permanent habitation is highly recommended due to its safety from
volcano hazards.
• 9. Earthquake hazard maps are important for determining volcano
hazards.
• 10. Volcanic activities cannot possibly cause tsunami.
 QUIZ #2: Volcano Hazards Essay (5 pts)

• P. 52 #2, 3, 4