Volcanoes form when magma rises from below the Earth's surface through cracks and vents, eventually erupting as lava or ash. Major eruptions can destroy landforms and infrastructure, while smaller eruptions may deposit new layers of rock and ash that build up the volcano over time. Monitoring volcanoes for precursor signs like tremors or gas release helps scientists warn communities of impending eruptions to minimize loss of life and property damage.
Volcanoes form when magma rises from below the Earth's surface through cracks and vents, eventually erupting as lava or ash. Major eruptions can destroy landforms and infrastructure, while smaller eruptions may deposit new layers of rock and ash that build up the volcano over time. Monitoring volcanoes for precursor signs like tremors or gas release helps scientists warn communities of impending eruptions to minimize loss of life and property damage.
Volcanoes form when magma rises from below the Earth's surface through cracks and vents, eventually erupting as lava or ash. Major eruptions can destroy landforms and infrastructure, while smaller eruptions may deposit new layers of rock and ash that build up the volcano over time. Monitoring volcanoes for precursor signs like tremors or gas release helps scientists warn communities of impending eruptions to minimize loss of life and property damage.
Volcanoes form when magma rises from below the Earth's surface through cracks and vents, eventually erupting as lava or ash. Major eruptions can destroy landforms and infrastructure, while smaller eruptions may deposit new layers of rock and ash that build up the volcano over time. Monitoring volcanoes for precursor signs like tremors or gas release helps scientists warn communities of impending eruptions to minimize loss of life and property damage.
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A volcano is a landform, may be a hill, a
mountain, a plateau, or just a fissure on Earth’s crust
through which molten rock from beneath reaches the surface. Due to tremendous pressure and extreme temperatures, the hot molten rock beneath Earth called magma is constantly moving and work its way toward Earth’s surface through cracks in solid rocks. The accumulation of the magma as it rises from a reservoir called magma chamber. The magma in the reservoir continues to move up through the surface until it erupts through an opening called vent. When magma reaches Earth’s surface, it becomes lava. Most volcanoes have more than one vent in which lava may pour from the volcano. At the top of a volcano is often a funnel-shaped pit or depression called crater. A crater that becomes very large as a result of the collapse of its walls is called caldera. Volcanic eruptions may be violent or quiet. During violent volcanic eruptions, gases from within Earth’s interior mix with large quantities of rock particles in the form of volcanic dust and ash rise into the air. Some eruptions are quiet where slowly oozing lava can be seen from the vent. Effects of Volcanic Eruption Like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions causes changes on Earth’s surface. When a volcano erupts, it can cause formation of landforms. A violent eruption can either build a bigger volcano or destroy a part or the entire shape of the volcano. The pyroclastic materials, ashes, and rock fragments can pile up and add to the rock layers of the volcano and make it a bigger one. It may also happen that due to a very violent explosion, some parts or a whole volcano can be destroyed until such time that a new cone-shaped landform appears. Due to strong tremors, fissures on the ground that surrounds the volcano can also be seen. A lahar that flows in huge amount can cover a certain land area, changing a residential area or an agricultural area into a desert-like one. Lahar and pyroclastic deposits also alter river systems. Active volcanoes are a threat to people, properties, and even to the environment. Pyroclastic flows, lava flows, falling ash, and debris flows result from erupting volcanoes. • Pyroclastic flows are mixtures of hot ash, rock fragments and gas, are deadly because of high temperatures of 850°C or higher and fast speeds. • Lava flows are devastating to properties and cause economic loss due to damaged crops. • Debris flows called lahar which is made up of concrete-like mixtures of volcanic debris from melted snow or rainfall can travel fast into surrounding valleys and can damage everything in their paths. The many death tolls in Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 and 1992 were attributed to lahar which flowed and covered almost the whole area of Central Luzon. It took long years before the people in the area recovered from the devastating event. The eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo affected the whole world because of the sulfur dioxide thrown in the atmosphere up to 15,000 meters high and spread all over the world in the upper atmosphere. The formation of sulfuric veil in the upper atmosphere caused the cooling of Earth’s temperature over a year. Precautionary Measures Before, During and After a Volcanic Eruption Before an Eruption: 1. Be aware of an unusual volcanic activity, such as tremors, release of gases, and an increase in temperature on the ground. 2. Stay tuned to the radio and follow warning instructions from authority. 3. Evacuate if necessary. 4. Prepare emergency materials like food, water and flashlight. During an Eruption: 1. Stay indoors. 2. Cover your nose with a damp cloth or face mask (if available) if there is smoke given off and if you are near the area of eruption. 3. When air is heavy with ash, keep eyes closed as much as possible. 4. Follow instructions from authorities as to how far you should be from the volcano. After an Eruption: 1. Wait for instructions from authorities to return home if you are in the evacuation area. 2. Remove ash deposits on the roof and surroundings of your house. 3. Cover your nose with damp cloth to protect yourself from the ash and volcanic dust carried by the wind. 4. Check if drinking water is safe. Do not drink unsafe water to avoid diseases. 5. Check electrical wires at home. Predicting and Studying Volcanoes Many of the deadly active volcanoes, especially those near populated places in the world, are being monitored by volcanologists, for them to predict eruptions and able to warn nearby residents to prevent loss of lives and minimize damage to properties. Some signs can be observed when a volcano is about to erupt. Tremors, swelling on the ground beneath the volcano, release of gases, and an increase of temperature of surface water usually occur. Volcanologists call these signs precursors activity. Volcanologists use seismographic devices and other instruments to monitor these precursors activity. They install sensors in active and restless volcanoes to gather information and they analyze the data in observatories. Aside from ground-based sensors, they are also using satellite-based systems to study volcanoes. A. Read and analyze each item carefully. Write B if the precautionary measure should be observed before the eruption, D if during the eruption, and A if after the eruption. Write your answers on the blank before each number.
___1. Check electrical wires at home.
___2. Prepare non-perishable foods and clean water. ___3. Cover your nose with a damp cloth when there is a heavy smoke. ___4. Remove ash and rock fragments from the roof of the house. ___5. Evacuate from your house to a safer place if necessary. ___6. Stay tuned to the radio for further instructions from authorities. ___7. Check if the source of water is safe. ___8. Wait for instructions to go home if you are in evacuation center. ___9. Keep your eyes closed if volcanic ash falls in your surroundings. ___10. Be alert of signs of volcanic activity. B. Answer correctly and briefly. 1. Do you like to live near a volcano? Why? 2. What are the warning signs that a volcano is about to erupt? 3. Describe the changes on Earth’s surface due to volcanic eruptions.