Earthquakes are caused by the Movement of the lithosphere while Volcanic activities are caused by the Movement of

magma in the Earth’s mantle. Rocks from the mantle reach the Earth’s surface through volcanic activities. Volcanoes
erupt because of several factors. Tons of materials are thrown out by a volcano during an Eruption which can give rise to
different volcanic cones and other volcanic landforms. Volcanoes are either active, potentially active, or inactive.

There are many volcanoes found in several islands in the Philippines because of the country’s location along the Ring Of
Fire’ Volcanic eruptions are commonly obsefved in the country. Volcanic eruptions pose many risks and hazards. To
manage these risks an hazards and avoid their adverse effects, proper action must be taken’ Though volcanoes can be
destructive, they also have their share of benefits which you will learn as you read this chapter.

LESSON 1: VOLCANIC FEATURE

VOLCANO

An opening or crack in the crust through which

Magma

Goest to the Earth’s surface as

Lava

And builds

Volcanic features

Volcanic Lava plateaus Lava domes Craters Calderas

Mountains

May be
Active Potentially Inactive
active
Volcanic Structure

A volcano may be an opening, gap, or crack on the Earth’s surface from which hot materials from the interior are
ejected. Most people think of a volcano as a conic mountain with smoke coming out Of its summit. But not all volcanoes
are mountainous; some of them are just cracks on the ground. These cracks can be found anywhere and in various forms
where gases, ashes, or melted rocks escape to the surface. Volcanoes can be found on both continental and oceanic
crusts.

Volcanoes originate from the rock beneath the surface of the Earth that melts. The melted rock or magma comes from
the Earth’s mantle. It is less dense than solid rocks so it rises through the cracks within the Earth’s crust. Large deposits
of magma are located in a magma chamber, a cavity where magma accumulates beneath a volcano.

Magma reaches the Earth’s surface, it is called lava. Lava and once f ash can be ejected from a vent or opening of a
volcano. A clouds o s-section of a volcano shows its different parts.
Volcanic Landforms

Different surface features can be formed or created by through the accumulation of volcanic through materials the on
surface. The ground The d an eruption or the intrusion of magma of a volcano and the composition of magma determine
the landforms created. Since the composition of magma determine. Viscosity it is this property of the lava that shapes
the landform the volcano creates. Viscosity is the resistance of a liquid material as lava, to flow. Low viscosity lava flows
smoothly and forms slopes. Its eruption is said to be non-explosive. High viscosity lava not flow easily and forms steep
slope. It can erupt explosively When highly viscous lava is thrown into the atmosphere eruption, it falls to the ground as
dusts or hot ashes and small of rocks called pyroclastic materials. Pyro means heat or fire, clastic means pieces.

The viscosity of magma depends on its composition temperature. It depends on the level of concentration of silica in
magma. Magma with higher silica content has higher visco% than magma with low silica content. The viscosity of map
determines the type of volcanic eruption, which is either explosive or non-explosive. But there is another factor that
determine viscosity of magma, which you are going to discover in the activity.

Volcanic Mountains

Volcanic eruption occurs when magma is expelled from a volcanic vent. Eruptions can be effusive, which is also known as
nonexplosive eruption, where the thick, sticky lava quietly and steadily flows out of a volcano. They can also be
explosive, where fragmented lava violently explodes out of a vent. Materials thrown out by a volcano may build up
around a vent to create volcanic mountains. There are three main types of volcanoes: shield volcanoes, cinder cone
volcanoes, and composite volcanoes.

Shield Volcanoes

Shield volcanoes are formed from nonexplosive eruptions. As such, they have a broad base and gently sloping sides.
They are made from less viscous lava that flows smoothly over a large area so they form the largest type of volcano.
They form in areas where magma is forced up from the Earth’s interior where fissures or cracks are common. Through
the opening, magma is forced upward Figure 8.2. Maun to the Earth’s surface. After several quiet eruptions, a dome-
shaped mountain with a gentle slope is formed. Mauna Loa in Hawaii is the largest shield volcano in the world.

Cinder Cone Volcanoe

Cinder cone volcanoes have a narrow base and steep sides since they result from explosive eruptions. They are made of
cinders and other rock particles that are blown into the air. The hardened Pieces of lava are called cinders.Moderate to
violent eruptions throw lava up into the air. The lava cools quickly in mid-air fragments of solidified lava, ash, and cinders
fall to the Earth, surface. The cones are not so high because of the loosely arranged materials they are made of. Paricutin
in Mexico is a cinder cone volcano; the Jolo Volcanic Group, which is an active volcano in the island of Jolo, Philippines,
also has a cinder cone

Composite or Stratovolcanoes

Composite volcanoes are built by alternating layers of rock particles and lava. During their formation, an explosive
eruption first occurs— volcanic bombs, cinders, and ashes are thrown from the vent. Then, a non-explosive eruption
follows allowing the lava to flow and cover the rock particles. A large cone-shaped

J. Mt. Arayat mountain is formed after many alternating eruptions. Mt. Vesuvius and Etna in Italy volcanoes are formed
in areas are famous where one composite plate sinks volcanoes. Beneath Composianothܕ Most of the volcanoes in the
Philippines are stratovolcanoes. Include Mayon, Banahaw, Arayat, and APO. These

Volcanic Surface Features

Volcanic mountains as lava plateaus, lava domes, crateers, and There are other surface features that are shaped
calderas.by volcanoes.
Lava Plateaus

Eruption can take place through other types of opening like fissures and joints. Fissure eruptions happen when low
viscous lava flows from giant cracks or fissures along the Earth’s surface. Fissures are found both on land and on the
ocean floor. A fissure eruption has no opening at the center. Lava flows out from the entire length of the fissure, which
can be several kilometers long. As a result, a thick and mostly flattened layer of cooled lava called lava plateau is formed.
The whole ocean floor is also created through fissure eruption. The Yellowstone Plateau in the United States, the Massif
Central in France and the Ethiopian Plateau in Africa, are prominent examples.

Lava Domes

If lava plateaus are formed by low viscous lava, lava domes are formed by highly viscous lava that flows slowly and pile
up around a vent. Like lava flows, they do not have enough pressure to erupt explosively. Because it is so thick, the lava
does not flow far from the vent. Musuan Peak or Mt. Calayo is a lava dome found in Valencia, Bukidnon.

Craters and Calderas

A volcanic crater is a circular opening or depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. In most volcanoes, it is a
bowl-shaped feature where a vent exists. This is where magma comes out when the volcano is active. A crater can be
huge and sometimes deep.

A caldera is a large bowl-shaped depression formed when a volcano collapses, such as when its magma chamber is
emptied. An explosive eruption may cause the ejection of large volumes Of magma that may result in the loss of
structural support for the overlying rock leading to the

Volcanoes in the Philippines

The Philippines is surrounded by faults and trenches. Trenches are found in subducting plates or sinking plates where
volcanoes are a common feature. The archipelago is surrounded by subducting plates, so volcanic mountains and
landforms are common features all over the archipelago. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS) is the agency in charge of monitoring volcanic activities in the country. PHIVOLCS classifies volcanoes into
three categories based on their activity: active volcanoes, potentially active volcanoes, and inactive volcanoes.

Active volcanoes are those that have erupted within the last 600 years and there are documented accounts of their
eruptions within the last 10 000 years based on the analyses of available data. An active volcano is one that erupts either

continuously or periodically. There are several active volcanoes in the Philippines. A number of them are listed in Table
8.1.

Table 8.1. Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Name of volcano Location Latest Eruption

Biliran Biliran island Sep 26 2016

Bulusan Sorsogon Dec. 29, 2016

Didicas Cagayan (Babuyan Island Group) Jan. 6-9, 1978

Hibok-Hibok Camiguin Sept. 31, 1948 -Jul. 1953

Kanlaon Negros Oriental Mar. 30, 2016

 Matumtum Cotabato Mar. 7, 1911

Mayon Albay Jan. 2018

Pinatubo Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambaks Jul. 9- Aug. 16, 1992

Ragang Cotabato 1916

Taal Batangas 1977

Potentially active volcanoes look young based on their struc and form and show no historical records of eruption.
Some•vOlcafl belonging to this type are shown in Table 8.2.

Table 8.2 Potential active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Volcano Province Nearby Cities/town

APO Davao Kidapawan, Davao City
Corregidor Bataan Mariveies
Isarog Camarines Sur Tigaon, Tinangis, Mayangayanga, Sta
Cruz, Goa, Simra,Laon, Turat,
Pinaglabanan, Abucayan,
Tagongtong, Buyo
Mariveles Bataan Orion, Bagac, Mariveles, Limay
Natib Bataan Olongapo, Morong, Bagac, Pilar,
Balanga, Abucay, Samal, Orani,
Dinalupihan
Kaiutangan Pangantucan Bukidnon
Maripipi Leyte Tacloban City
Mandalagan Negros Occidental Bacolod City
Sinumaan Sulu Paticul
Malindig Marinduque Bagacay, Lipata, Dampula, Tigui,
Malibago, Shi

Inactive volcanoes have no records of eruption. Features show that they are already mature for they have already
undergone weathering and erosion. Erosion has changed their surface features as evidenced by the deep and long
gullies. There are numerous inactive volcanoes in the country, more than the number of active and potentially active
volcanoes. Makiling in Laguna and Batangas, Mambajao in Camiguin, Naujan in Mindoro Oriental, Pulag in Benguet,
Sabtang in Batanes, Talim in Rizal, Talomo in Davao/ Cotabato, Arayat in Pampanga, and Banahaw in Quezon/Laguna are
some inactive volcanoes in the Philippines.