VOLCANO_Module
VOLCANO_Module
What is a volcano?
A mountain where lava comes from a magma chamber under the ground.
It has a summit, slope and a base.
It erupts when magma and pressure come together, and the pressure blows off the tip of the solid
rock and the magma pours out.
Types of Volcanoes:
1. SHIELD VOLCANO
are built out of layers of lava from continual eruptions (without explosion)
do not grow to a great height, and the layers of the lava spread out to give the volcano
gently sloping slides.
Can be huge
Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the biggest mountain on earth and is an example of a shield volcano
2. STARTOVOLCANO
Also known as a COMPOSITE Volcano, is tall and conical volcano
It is built up of many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash
Have steep profile and periodic eruptions. Its lava is sticky and high in viscosity.
Mt. Fuji in Japan is one of the composite volcanoes.
Caldera – is what is left when a huge stratovolcano blows its top off. It leaves a crater. Mt. Krakatoa
is best known for its catastrophic eruption in 1883, is much smaller now.
Classification of Volcanoes:
1. Activity
A. Active Volcano – has record of eruption for the past 10,000 years
Dormant Volcano – Is sleeping but could be awaken in the future
B. Inactive / Extinct Volcano – has no record of eruption for the past 10,000 years
Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is located on top of an extinct volcano
Effect of Magma’s Composition to Viscosity - Magmas with high silica tend to have high
viscosity. Magmas with low silica content, have lower viscosity.
Volcanic Hazards:
Pyroclastic flow and surges
Ash Fall
Gas Emission
Tephra Falls and Ballistic Projectiles
Lahar
Debris avalanche
Volcanic Tsunamis
Benefits of Volcanoes:
Volcanic soil is rich in nutrients and very fertile for growing crops.
They can form new land masses and islands.
Making of earthenware out of ash fall.
Volcanoes provide geothermal energy.
-Philippines is 2nd rank in the world’s production of geothermal energy.
-27% of the electricity is generated in the power plants
-production of electricity from geothermal energy is cheaper than using natural gas, coal
and hydropower.