STAGES OF A VOLCANO

The three stages of a volcano are active, dormant, and extinct.

o Active Volcanoes: A volcano will be classified as an active volcano
if at the present time it is expected to erupt or is erupting already.

Mt. Kanlaon
Mt. Mayon
 o Dormant Volcanoes: The classification of volcanoes which is
called dormant would be a volcano that is not erupting or predicted to
erupt in the near future.

Cuernos
de Negros

o Extinct Volcanoes: An extinct volcano is a volcano that no one

expects will ever have another eruption.

Mt. Talomo

STAGES OF A VOLCANO

The three stages of a volcano are active, dormant, and extinct.

o Active Volcanoes: A volcano will be classified as an active volcano
if at the present time it is expected to erupt or is erupting already.
 Mt. Kanlaon
Mt. Mayon

o Dormant Volcanoes: The classification of volcanoes which is

called dormant would be a volcano that is not erupting or predicted to
erupt in the near future.

Cuernos
de Negros

o Extinct Volcanoes: An extinct volcano is a volcano that no one

expects will ever have another eruption.

Mt. Talomo

Volcanic Eruption

A volcano is an opening or rupture in the earth’s surface that allows magma (hot liquid and semi-liquid
rock), volcanic ash and gases to escape. They are generally found where tectonic plates come together
or separate but they can also occur in the middle of plates due to volcanic hotspots.
A volcanic eruption is when lava and gas are released from a volcano—sometimes explosively. The most
dangerous type of eruption is called a 'glowing avalanche' which is when freshly erupted magma flows
down the sides of a volcano. They can travel quickly and reach temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees
Fahrenheit. Other hazards include ash fall, and lahars (mud or debris flows). Volcanoes often cause
population displacement and food shortages.

How can we tell when a volcano will erupt?

Most volcanoes provide warnings before an eruption. Magmatic eruptions involve the rise of magma
toward the surface, which normally generates detectable earthquakes. It can also deform the ground
surface and cause anomalous heat flow or changes in the temperature and chemistry of the
groundwater and spring waters. Steam-blast eruptions, however, can occur with little or no warning as
superheated water flashes to steam.

Notable precursors to an eruption might include:

An increase in the frequency and intensity of felt earthquakes

Noticeable steaming or fumarolic activity and new or enlarged areas of hot ground

Subtle swelling of the ground surface

Small changes in heat flow

Changes in the composition or relative abundances of fumarolic gases

These precursors do not indicate the type or scale of an expected eruption (that information is best
obtained by mapping previous eruptions). Precursors can continue for weeks, months, or even years
before eruptive activity begins, or they can subside at any time and not be followed by an eruption.
Italy’s Campi Flegrei volcano has been showing signs of unrest for over 60 years.

What are the instruments used to detect a volcanic eruption?

Despite the use of cutting-edge technology and ongoing research, the ability to predict exactly when a
volcano will erupt is still not perfect. Several techniques that have been developed include satellite
monitoring, measuring seismic and gas activity at ground level, observing changes and deformities in the
Earth’s crust and hydrological analysis. Each of these techniques requires a different instrument to
monitor volcanic activity. Understanding how volcanoes behave and predicting possible eruptions
improves public safety.

Satellites

Orbiting satellites monitor volcanoes from space, providing vital information and signs of a possible
eruption. Satellites use cameras to provide images and photos. They also provide information from
special sensors that can detect heat, sulfur dioxide and even tiny changes in the shape of the Earth's
surface. All of this information can offer clues as to whether an eruption is imminent.
Seismographs

Seismographs measure movement in the planet's crust. Volcanic eruptions are closely related to the
seismic activities that also cause earthquakes and tremors, so seismographs are also often used to
monitor volcanoes. As the tectonic plates scrape and slide against each other or move apart, they cause
vibrations and tension. A violent seismic reading is often a precursor to an eruption when it occurs near a
volcano.
Tiltmeters

Similar to spirit levels, tiltmeters are positioned on and around a volcano. A small container of liquid
shows how much the ground moves. The tiltmeters are connected to computers that monitor ongoing
changes in the landscape. Changes in the landscape and deformations at ground level are often
predictors of volcanic activity. Magma movements beneath the ground can cause visible bulging and
hollows to form. These changes offer vital clues about volcanic activity under the ground.

Hydrology Instruments

Hydrology is the study of water flows and groundwater. Hydrologists use pressure sensors, water
detectors, maps and the naked eye to gather data. Measuring the hydrology on volcanoes has two
purposes. Monitoring water changes can provide clues about the activity of a volcano. A sudden change
could predict a volcanic eruption. Hydrologists also identify the paths that water takes as it flows down a
volcano’s side. Understanding how water flows can help us understand how lava might flow. This can
help emergency services decide where and when to evacuate if an eruption occurs.
Gas Trapping Bottles

Volcanoes emit gases, so measuring gas emissions around volcanoes can also provide useful information
about changes in behavior that could indicate an eruption in the making. The instruments used to do this
are typically trapping bottles wherein local air is pumped into containers and then analyzed in a lab. As
magma moves towards the surface of the earth, the pressure releases gas. The two most abundant
gases are sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, and if levels of these gases increase, it shows that magma is
rising to the surface and an eruption is more likely.