Lesson 7

Topic: Volcano Hazards

Volcano
- It is described as a vent and opening on the earth’s surface and ejects molten rocks,
gases, and ashes.

How are Volcanoes Formed

1) The planet Earth is composed of four layers: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner
core.
2) The two outermost layers, the crust and the (outermost) mantle are composed of
puzzle-like sections called Tectonic Plates.
3) The edge of these tectonic plates are called Plate Boundaries.
4) This occurs when one plate moves below another in a process called Subduction.
5) Subduction causes molten rocks to move up the surface.
6) Magma which rises is now called Lava. It will cool, solidify, and form the volcanic arc.

Types of Volcanoes

Shield Volcanoes
- These volcanoes produce low viscosity, runny lava, which flows far from the source. It
has gentle slopes

Stratovolcanoes
- These volcanoes produce viscous, sticky lava, which does not flow easily. It has
relatively steep slope.

Calderas
- These volcanoes occur when a volcano erupts violently, resulting to its collapse.

Active Volcanoes
- Are volcanoes which erupted at least once in the last 10,000 years.
Dormants Volcanoes
- Are volcanoes which has not erupted in the last 10,000 years.
Extinct Volcanoes
- Are volcanoes which has not erupted in the last 10,000 years and is not expected in the
foreseeable future.
Lesson 8
Topic: Volcanic Disaster Readiness

Signs of an impending Volcanoes

1) Visible changes in the characteristics of a volcano
a) Volume and temperature of gas composition
b) Volcanic Smoke
c) Volcanic Quakes

2) Deformation of the ground due to magma intrusion

a) Frequency of landslide
b) Frequency of rockfalls
c) Dying vegetation around the volcano

3) Changes in bodies of water

a) Increased temperature of water wells
b) Increased temperature in lakes and rivers
c) Noticeable alterations in the chemical content of bodies of water

Tools for Recognizing Volcanic Hazards\

1) Permanent Danger Zones (PDZ)
- PHIVOLCS (Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) assigned
Permanent Danger Zones pertains to four to six kilometers radius from the
summit of a volcano.

2) Alert Levels
This provides the following:
- Levels ranging from 0 - 5
- A measurable indicator of the current situation of an impending volcanic eruption.
- Provides a trigger to the public to take immediate action.

ALERT LEVEL 0: No Alert

ALERT LEVEL 1: Abnormality Observed
ALERT LEVEL 2: There is an increasing unrest
ALERT LEVEL 3: There is an increasing tendency towards eruption.
ALERT LEVEL 4: Hazardous Eruption is imminent
ALERT LEVEL 5: Volcanic Eruption is Happening

Volcanic Hazards are activities that may harm the subsystem on Earth such as biosphere,
atmosphere, and geosphere.

Lava Flow
- Occurs when magma from underneath the earth flows on the surface as lava.
Pyroclastic Flow and Surges
- Occurs when rock materials, hot gases, and ash flow that can burn and suffocate
people.

Gas Emissions
- Occurs when minor amounts of nitrogen, methane, and helium from magma and lava are
blown by wind.

Ash Fall
- Are small pieces of rocks, minerals, and fragments blown by a volcanic eruptions.

Lahar
- Are mudflows which are combination of volcanic debris and floods.