Terrain Familiarization

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 Trina Ritchell Aquino
Kenneth Chan Heinz Alfred Juan Tong
EECE Department
EECE Department EECE Department
Institute of Electronics and
Institute of Electronics and Institute of Electronics and
Communication Engineers of the Phils.
Communication Engineers of the Phils. Communication Engineers of the Phils.
Manila, Philippines
Manila, Philippines Manila, Philippines
trraquino@mymail.mapua.edu.ph
kdchan@mymail.mapua.edu.ph haqjuantong@mymail.mapua.edu.ph
 Abstract—This document is about the familiarization of the
different types of terrain. This also includes the discussion of
various major landforms and water forms on Philippines.

Keywords—terrain, landforms, water forms

I. INTRODUCTION
Terrain is a derivative of the word “terra” meaning earth.
It refers to the horizontal and vertical versions of the land
surface. To describe the terrain of the land, one uses factors
such as the slope, elevation, and orientation of the land. The Fig. 2. Google Earth location of the Cliff near Tanke Saltwater Lake
terrain of land affects the flow and distribution of water.
Furthermore, in extensive land tracts, the terrain of land often Fig. 3.
affects the weather pattern and climate of the area. The
terrain is the equivalent of bathymetry which measures the
terrain of underwater surfaces.
Terrain map shows different physical features of the
landscape. Contours are imaginary lines that join points of
equal elevation.
Contours lines make it possible to determine the height of
mountains, depths of the ocean bottom, and steepness of
NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Cliff near Tanke Saltwater Lake
slopes. Elevation values are printed along the lines. Contour
lines that are close together indicate steep slopes. Contours
that are far apart or an absence of contours means flat terrain. K Factor: 4/3 (dry rock/ standard)

Remarks : Diffraction
II. DIFFERENT TYPES OF TERRAINS
Coordinates: 11°34'23.1"N 123°19'47.7"E
A. Landforms
Many different types of landforms make up Earth’s
topography. Several major categories of landform define that
smaller portion of the planet not covered by water, including
mountains, plains, plateaus and valleys. These can be formed
by a variety of natural forces, including erosion from water 2) Mountain (Bundok)
and wind, plate movement, folding and faulting, and A mountain is a large landform that rises above the
volcanic activity. surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of a
peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. Mountains
are formed through tectonic forces or volcanism.
1) Cliff (Talampas) Mount Palay-Palay, also known as Mount Pico de
A cliff is a vertical, or nearly vertical, rock exposure. Loro, is a dormant volcano in Cavite province on the island
Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms by the processes of of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain rises to an elevation of
weathering and erosion. Cliffs are common on coasts, in 688 m (2,257 ft) above mean sea level.
mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are
usually formed by rock that is resistant to weathering and
erosion. The cliff in the picture is a cliff diving point near
Tanke Saltwater Lake.

Fig. 4. Mount Pico De Loro

Fig. 1. Cliff diving point near Tanke Saltwater Lake

Fig. 5. Mount Pico De Loro as seen on Google Earth
Fig. 8. Taal Volcano as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 6. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Mount Pico De Loro

Fig. 9. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Taal Volcano
K Factor: 1.165 (mountain)
K Factor: 1.165 (mountain)
Remarks : Refraction, Absorption
Remarks : Refraction, Diffraction
Coordinates: 14.2139° N, 120.6462°
Coordinates: 14.0113° N, 120.9977° E

3) Volcano (Bulcan)
A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass 4) Islet (Munting Pulo)
object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and
An islet landform is generally considered to be a
gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
Earth's volcanoes occur because its crust is broken into 17 rock or small island that has little vegetation and cannot
major, rigid tectonic plates that float on a hotter, softer layer sustain human habitation. An islet may be formed by wave
in its mantle. Therefore, on Earth, volcanoes are generally action that can build a sandbar. Volcanic activity can also
found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging, and produce a rock formation above the water to create an islet.
most are found underwater. For example, a mid-oceanic Most islets are only a fraction of one square mile and are
ridge, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, has volcanoes caused sometimes measured in meters or feet. An islet can be up to
by divergent tectonic plates whereas the Pacific Ring of Fire several square miles in size. There is no specific rule to
has volcanoes caused by convergent tectonic plates. determine an islet by size.
The islet inside the red circle is called Guyam
Taal Volcano (Filipino: Bulkang Taal) is a complex
Island near the much larger Siargao Island.
volcano located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It
is the second most active volcano in the Philippines with 33
historical eruptions.

Fig. 10. View of Guyam Island

Fig. 7. Taal Volcano in the background

 Children's Island. The islands are believed to be about 2
million years old.

Fig. 11. A picture taken on the Guyam Island

Fig. 14. Quezon Island – one of the hundred islands

Fig. 12. Guyam Island as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 15. View of the islands from Governor Island’s Viewdeck

Fig. 13. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Guyam Island

K Factor: ¾ (coconut trees)

Remarks : Absorption
Fig. 16. Hundred Island as seen on Google Earth
Coordinates: 9°45'54.8"N 126°10'04.6"E

5) Island (Isla)
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental
land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as
emergent land features on atolls can be called islets,
skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island
may be called an eyot or ait, and a small island off the coast
may be called a holm. A grouping of geographically or
geologically related islands is called an archipelago, such as Fig. 17. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Hundred Island
the Philippines.
The Hundred Islands National Park (tourist spot) is
K Factor: 3/4
the first national park and a protected area located in
Alaminos, Pangasinan in the northern Philippines. The Remarks : Absorption
islands, totaling 124 at low tide and 123 at high tide, are
scattered in Lingayen Gulf covering an area of 16.76 square Coordinates: 16°12′N 120°2′E
kilometres (6.47 sq mi). Only three of them have been
developed for tourism: Governor Island, Quezon Island, and
 6) Reef (Bahura)
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem
7) Cave (Bahura)
characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground,
colonies of coral polypsheld together by calcium carbonate.
specifically a space large enough for a human to enter.
Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps
Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often
cluster in groups.
extend deep underground. The word cave can also refer to
much smaller openings such as sea caves, rock shelters, and
grottos, though strictly speaking a cave is exogene, meaning
it is deeper than its opening is wide, and a rock shelter is
endogene.
They also found a cave dome measuring 300 m
(980 ft) above the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean
Underground River, rock formations, large bats, a deep-
water hole in the river, more river channels, and another
deep cave, as well as marine creatures and more. Deeper
areas of the underground river are almost impossible to
Fig. 18. Coral reefs that was taken underwater near Siargao Island explore due to oxygen deprivation.

Fig. 19. A picture underwater with reefs as the background

Fig. 22. Outside the Cave dome above the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean
Underground River

Fig. 20. Google earth view of the location where the reefs are seen

Fig. 23. Inside the cave dome Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean Underground
River

Fig. 21. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the reef near Siargao Island

K Factor: 0.58

Remarks : Refraction, Diffraction

Coordinates: 9°45'09.0"N 126°08'27.3"E

Fig. 24. Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean Underground River as seen on
google earth

Fig. 28. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Philippine Eagle Center

Fig. 25. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Cave dome above the Puerto K Factor: 3/4
Prinsesa Subterranean Underground River

Remarks : Absorption
K Factor: 4/3
Coordinates: 7.1851° N, 125.4155° E
Remarks : Refraction, Reflection

Coordinates: 10.1926° N, 118.9266° E

9) Plain (Patag)
A plain is a broad area of relatively flat land. Plains
8) Forest (Gubat) are one of the major landforms, or types of land, on Earth.
The forest is a complex ecosystem consisting They cover more than one-third of the world’s land area.
mainly of trees that buffer the earth and support a myriad of Plains exist on every continent.
life forms. The Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) is an 8.4-
hectare area located at the foothills of Mt. Apo in Malagos,
Baguio District, Davao City and situated within the Malagos
Watershed. The Philippine Eagle Center primarily operates
as a conservation breeding facility for the critically
endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and
other birds of prey.

Fig. 29. Plain in Bugtong Bato Falls

Fig. 26. Philippine Eagle Center (PEC)

Fig. 30. Plain in Bugtong Bato Falls as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 27. Philippine Eagle Center on Google Earth

Fig. 31. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Plain Fig. 34. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Lighthouse

K Factor: 2/3 K Factor: 3/4

Remarks : Absorption Remarks : Diffraction, Reflection
Coordinates: 11.3153° N, 122.0907° E Coordinates: 10.419° N,121.92° E

10) Lighthouse (Parola) 11) Hill (Burol)

A hill is a landform that extends above the
A lighthouse is a tower containing a powerful surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit, although
flashing lamp that is built on the coast or on a small island. in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a
Lighthouses are used to guide ships or to warn them of section of flat terrain without a massive summit. The
danger. distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and
At the end of the calachuchi tunnel is this hundred- largely subjective, but a hill is universally considered to be
foot tall modern lighthouse. But we already know that this is less tall and less steep than a mountain.
just an illusion. It masks its true form—a dark, moss- The Chocolate Hills are a geological formation in
covered brick tower with no entry except a window at the the Bohol province of the Philippines. There are at least
top. 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread
over an area of more than 50 sq km. They are covered in
green grass that turns brown (like chocolate) during the dry
season, hence the name. The Chocolate Hills form a rolling
terrain of haycock hills – mounds of a generally conical and
almost symmetrical shape.

Fig. 32. Modern Lighthouse at the end of calachuchi tunnel

Fig. 35. Picture taken in Bohol’s Chocolate Hills

Fig. 33. Google earth view of the location of the lighthouse

Fig. 36. Google Earth view of Chooclate Hills
 Fig. 40. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Magpupungko Tidepools
Fig. 37. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Chocolate Hills
K Factor: 0.58

K Factor: 1.015 Remarks : Reflection, Refraction

Remarks : Diffraction, Absorption Coordinates: 9.8755° N, 126.1185° E

Coordinates: 9°55’ N,124°10’ E 2) Taal lake (Lawa)

A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a
B. Water Forms basin, that is surrounded by land, apart from any river or
other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake.
Water bodies constitute areas of water – both salt Taal lake is formerly known as Bombón Lake and
and fresh, large and small – which are distinct from one is found in the province of Batangas. This lake surrounds
another in various ways. They range in size from oceans at Taal Volcano.
the biggest end of the spectrum to little brooks and streams;
geographers normally don’t include small, temporary water
features such as puddles in this category. From pond to
Pacific, bodies of water rank among the most significant
natural resources on the planet, to say the least.

1) Tide Pools (Tidepool)

Tide pools are rocky pools filled with sea water.
These pools are usually adjacent to oceans and are highly
evident during low tides and more-or-less unnoticeable
during high tide. The Magpupungko tidepools are located at
the eastern side of Siargao Island.

Fig. 41. Taal lake in the province of Batangas

Fig. 42. Taal lake as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 38. Magpupungko tidepools in the Eastern side of Siargao Island

Fig. 43. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Taal Lake

Fig. 39. Google Earth view of the Magpupungko Tidepools
K Factor: 0.58
Remarks : Diffraction, Refraction

Coordinates: 13.9750° N, 121.0220° E

3) Bay (Look)
A bay is a body of water—usually seawater (salt
water) and sometimes fresh water— mostly surrounded by
land.
Manila Bay is situated in the western part of Luzon Fig. 47. Balayan and Batangas Bay as seen on Google Earth
and is bounded by Cavite and Metro Manila on the east,
Bulacan and Pampanga on the north, and Bataan on the west
and northwest. Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves
the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines.
Strategically located around the capital city of the
Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade
between the Philippines and its neighboring countries,
becoming the gateway for socio-economic development
even prior to Spanish occupation. Additionally, Balayan and
Batangas bays are viewable at the peak of Pico de Loro.
Fig. 48. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Manila Bay

Fig. 49. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Balayan and Batangas Bay

Fig. 44. Manila Bay
K Factor: 0.58

Remarks : Diffraction, Reflection

Coordinates:
Manila
14.5188° N, 120.7580° E
Balayan
13.8447° N, 120.8499° E
Batangas
13.7196° N, 121.0106° E

4) Brook (Sapa)
A stream smaller than a creek, especially one that is
Fig. 45. At the peak of Pico de Loro where the Balayan and Baatangas bays
fed by a spring or seep. It is usually small and easily forded.
can be seen A brook is characterized by its shallowness. This brook is
found near Mount Pinatubo as located by the red circle. The
flowing water most likely comes from the lake at the crater
of Pinatubo itself.

Fig. 46. Manila Bay as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 50. Brook near Mt. Pinatubo

Fig. 53. Davao Gulf located in SE part of Mindanao

Fig. 51. Brook near Mt. Pinatubo as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 54. Davao gulf as seen on Google Earth

Fig. 52. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Brook near Mt. Pinatubo

K Factor: 0.58

Remarks : Reflection, Refraction

Coordinates: 15°10'17.6"N 120°20'49.0"E Fig. 55. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Davao Gulf

K Factor: 0.58

5) Gulf (Golpo) Remarks : Reflection

A gulf is a part of an ocean or sea extending into
the land. Davao Gulf is in the southeastern part of Mindanao Coordinates: 6.6813° N, 125.8280° E
and is one of the richest national zones for fish production.
It ranks as one of the priority conservation areas of the Sulu-
Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion. It is a breeding and nursery
ground for small and large pelagic species, with frequent 6) Strait (Kipot)
sightings of whale sharks, dugongs and leatherback turtles, A strait is a narrow body of water that connects two
among the list of species cited in the Convention on the larger bodies of water. It may be formed by a fracture in an
International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). isthmus, a narrow body of land that connects two bodies of
water.
The Iloilo Strait is a strait in the Philippines that
separates the islands of Panay and Guimaras in the
Visayas,and connects the Panay Gulf with the Guimaras
Strait. It is the location of the Port of Iloilo, the third-busiest World Heritage Site and one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of
of the ports in the Philippines in number of ships. Nature’, it’s the world’s longest navigable underground river
and makes for an exciting experience in one of the
Philippines’ most popular islands.

Fig. 56. Iloilo Strait

Fig. 59. Puerto Princesa River in Palawan

Fig. 57. Iloilo Strait as seen on Google Earth Fig. 60. Puerto Princesa River in Palawan on Google Earth

Fig. 58. NAMRIA Map Illustration of the Iloilo Strait

Fig. 61. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Puerto Princesa River
K Factor: 0.58

Remarks : Reflection K Factor: 0.58

Coordinates: 10.6595° N, 122.5486° E Remarks : Reflection

7) River (Ilog) Coordinates: 10.1926° N, 118.9266° E

A river is a large amount of fresh water flowing
continuously in a long line across the land.
Deep underground on the island of Palawan in the 8) Sea (Dagat)
Philippines lies the Puerto Princesa River. Both a UNESCO
 A sea is a great body of salt water that covers much Fig. 63. Sulu Sea as seen on Google Earth
of the earth. Sulu Sea, portion of the western North Pacific
Ocean. It is bounded by northeastern Borneo on the
southwest, the southwestern islands of the Philippines,
including Palawan, on the west and northwest, Busuanga
and Mindoro on the north, Panay and Negros on the east,
and Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago on the southeast.
About 490 miles (790 km) from north to south and 375
miles east to west, with a surface area of 100,000 square
miles (260,000 square km), it fills a downfaulted block, in
some places almost 18,400 feet (5,600 meters) deep, the
edges of which are seen in the bordering islands. Fig. 64. NAMRIA Map Illustration of Sulu Sea

K Factor: 0.58

Remarks : Reflection

Coordinates: 8.5190° N, 120.8958° E

III. REFERENCES
[1] ]"River definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary",
Collinsdictionary.com. [Online]. Available:
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/river.
[Accessed: 27- Feb- 2019].
[2] "Puerto Princesa Underground River: the Philippines' 8km-long
subterranean wonder - Rough Guides", Rough Guides. [Online].
Fig. 62. Sulu Sea Available: https://www.roughguides.com/article/puerto-princesa-
underground-river-palawan-philippines/. [Accessed: 27- Feb- 2019].
[3] Society, "waterfall", National Geographic Society. [Online].
Available:
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/waterfall/.
[Accessed: 27- Feb- 2019].
[4] ]"Cool Down at Antique’s Bugtong-Bato this Summer - Choose
Philippines. Find. Discover. Share.", Choosephilippines.com.
[Online].Available:
https://www.choosephilippines.com/go/mountains-and-
volcanoes/2808/bugtong-bato-waterfalls. [Accessed: 27- Feb- 2019]
[5] .I. S. Jacobs and C. P. Bean, “Fine particles, thin films and exchange
[6] 1
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