SCIENCES 9

3rd QUARTER

LESSON 1: DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOLCANOES

A. STRUCTURE OF A VOLCANO
The term “volcano” refers to mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent in which lava, rock
fragments, hot vapor, and gas are or have been erupted from the earth's crust. The lava and other volcanic materials
originated from molten materials called magma found beneath the surface of the Earth. Magma and other volcanic
materials are finding its way to the surface where they are expelled through openings like cracks and holes. Any activity
that includes the movement of magma towards or onto the surface is called volcanism.

The Parts of a Volcano are:

❖ Summit is the highest point or the apex of the volcano. At the summit, you have an opening called vent.
❖ Slopes are the sides or flanks of a volcano that radiate from the main or central vent.
❖ Base is lower outer part of the volcano.
Other Geologic features of a volcano:
▪ Magma Chamber is a region beneath the vent of a volcano where molten rock or magma is deposited or stored
before an eruption.
▪ Main Vent is the main opening or outlet on the surface of a volcano that emits lava, gases, ash or other volcanic
materials.
▪ Conduit is an underground central tube-like or pipe-like structure of a volcano that connects the magma
chamber to the crater through which the magma travels.
▪ Side Vent is a smaller outlet through which magma escapes.
▪ Crater is the mouth of the volcano which is a funnel-shaped or bowlshaped hollow at the top of the vent from
where magma, ash and gas comes out.
▪ Lava is a molten rock which is given off onto the surface of the Earth when a volcano erupts.
▪ Ash and Gas Cloud is a mixture of rock, minerals, glass particles and gases expelled or pushed out of the
volcano during volcanic eruption.
B. CLASSIFICATION OF VOLCANOES
There are several ways by which volcanoes can be classified. They can be classified based on structure and activity.

❖ Types of Volcanoes Based on Structure

One way to classify different types of volcanoes is through the structure characterized by their shape, parts
and formation.

▪ Cinder Cone Volcano

• Simplest type of volcanoes.

• They are built from particles and blobs of solidified
lava ejected from a single vent.
• They have steep slope, wide crater and are the most
abundant of the three major volcano types.
• Example: Taal Volcano

▪ Composite Volcano

• These are large, typically steep sided, and has

symmetrical shape.
• They are formed from viscous, or sticky, lava
that does not flow easily.
• Eruptions tend to be explosive.
• Example: Mt. Mayon and Mt. Arayat.

▪ Shield Volcano
• These are large, broad volcanic landforms with
gently sloping sides.
• These volcanoes formed from wide thin layers of
fluid lava flow thus these volcanoes are not steep.
• They are tall and broad, with flat, and round
shapes.
• Eruptions are non-explosive.
• Example: Mauna Loa in Hawaii
FEATURE CINDER CONE VOLCANO COMPOSITE VOLCANO SHIELD VOLCANO

Shape Steep, cone-shaped Tall, symmetrical with Broad, gently sloping

steep sides

Eruption Style Explosive, short eruptions Explosive and sometimes Non-explosive, lava flows
effusive, alternating layers easily and travels far
of lava and ash

Lava Type Solidified lava fragments Viscous, sticky lava Fluid lava
(cinders, ash) (andesitic or rhyolitic)

Hazard Level Moderate, due to explosive High, due to explosive Low to moderate, typically
eruptions eruptions and pyroclastic non-explosive
flows

Formation Formed from lava fragments Formed by alternating Formed by fluid lava that
ejected during explosive layers of lava and ash from spreads out to form wide,
eruptions explosive eruptions gentle slopes

Example Taal Volcano Mayon Volcano Mauna Loa Volcano

❖ Types of Volcanoes Based on Activity

Another way of classifying volcanoes according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is based on their activity as indicated by their behavior and historical records.
▪ Active volcanoes
➢ volcanoes that have had at least one eruption during the past 10,000 years. They are those that
erupted recently and still showing regular activity like emission of gases, lava and ash flows.
▪ Inactive volcanoes
➢ those that have not erupted for the last 10,000 years and are not expected to erupt again in a
comparable time scale of the future. There are no signs of volcanic activity for a long period of
time because magma supply is cut off. Also, the physical form of the volcano has signs of
intensive weathering and erosion
C. Types of Volcanic Eruptions
Different types of volcanoes erupt differently. They are generally classified as wet or dry depending on the magma’s
water content. Volcanoes are described according to the style of eruption as follows:

❖ Phreatic or hydrothermal is a stream-driven eruption as the hot rocks come in contact with water. It is short
lived, characterized by ash columns but may be the beginning of a larger eruption.
❖ Phreatomagmatic is a violent eruption due to the contact between water and magma. As a result, a large column
of very fine ash and high-speed and sideway emissions of pyroclastic materials called base surges are observed.
❖ Strombolian a periodic, weak to violent eruption characterized by fountain lava, just like the Irazu Volcano in
Costa Rica.
❖ Vulcanian is characterized by tall eruption columns that reach up to 20 km high with pyroclastic flow and ash
fall tephra like that of Paricutin Volcano in Mexico.
❖ Plinian is an excessively explosive type of eruption of gas and pyroclastic materials, like in Pinatubo Volcano
in Zambales.

Phreatic Phreatomagmatic Strombolian

Vulcanian Plinian

Signs of an Impending Volcanic Eruption

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and

Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is the
government agency tasked with monitoring
earthquakes and volcanoes in the country.
Based on their findings, here are the
commonly observed signs when a volcano
is about to erupt.
LESSON 2: VOLCANIC ERUPTION
Facts About Volcanoes

• More than 80% of the Earth’s surface is volcanic in origin.

• Mountains and seafloors were formed by volcanic eruptions.
• Volcanoes’ gaseous emission formed the Earth’s atmosphere.
• The danger zone around volcano covers about 32.187 km radius.
• Volcanic lightning is caused by friction between the ash particles moving rapidly to the surface.
• Volcanic eruptions can trigger earthquakes, mudflow, rock falls, flash floods and tsunamis.
• Volcanic ash is a mixture of rock fragments, glass particles, and minerals thrown out from erupting
volcanoes. It is acidic and has sharp edges.

A. MAGMA AND ITS COMPOSITION

Magma is a molten rock which lies underneath volcanoes. It is formed at destructive plate boundaries and
is rich in silicate. These are products of crustal rocks (which are richer in silica than the rock of the mantle).

• Crystal Content
Some magmas begin to crystallize as they reach the surface. High temperature minerals are formed as magma
slowly cools down followed by low temperature minerals. Magma always contains crystals of high temperature.

• Viscosity
The magma’s silica content affects its viscosity, the resistance of the fluid to flow. Low viscosity magma has low
silica content and is composed mostly of basalt. While magma with rhyolite is viscous or high in viscosity due to
its high silica content. Temperature also affects the viscosity of the magma. Magma with high temperatures have
low viscosity while magma with low temperatures have high viscosity.

• Temperature
The temperature of magma reflects the melting points of their mineral components. Magmas formed by partial
melting of mantle rocks are much hotter over 1200⁰C for some basalts. Rhyolites that reached the surface have
temperatures of less than 900⁰C and have a much higher viscosity.

• Volatile Content
Magma contains small amounts of dissolved gas (water vapor, Carbon dioxide, etc.) which is released as pressure
is removed. Magmas formed by melting of mantle rocks have generally low volatile contents, but those formed by
partial melting of crustal rocks are often volatile-rich. The degree of concentrations of different volcanic gases are
different from one volcano to the other. Water vapor is the most abundant volcanic gas, followed by carbon
dioxide and sulfur dioxide. There are other volcanic gases such as hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, and
hydrogen fluoride. Trace gases are also found in volcanic emissions and these are: hydrogen, carbon monoxide,
and volatile metal chloride. The movement of this volatile content is affected by the viscosity of the magma. As
the gas continues to precipitate from the high viscosity magma, the bubbles will be prevented from rapidly
breaking out resulting to the increase in pressure on the magma column. This causes the volcano to erupt
explosively.
B. CLASSIFICATIONS OF MAGMA
Magma can be classified into basaltic or mafic, intermediate or andesitic and granitic or felsic.

Table 1: Magma composition and characteristics

C. PROCESS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION

High temperature inside the Earth melts the solid rocks in the mantle and turns it into a thick molten mixture
commonly known as magma. The continuous melting of solid rocks and accumulation of additional magma push
it to the vent of a volcano, called magma chamber. Magma contains dissolved gases, mostly water vapor, carbon
dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. As dissolved gases are released from the magma, bubbles will begin to form through
the process called vesiculation. This can occur by decompression or crystallization. In decompression, the confining
pressure is lowered when magma rises which promotes bubble formation. This process is similar to bubble
formation in soda bottles when opened. In the process of crystallization of anhydrous minerals, the vapor pressure
of the residual liquid of the cooling magma increases leading to vesiculation. Bubbles frozen in a porous or frothy
volcanic rock are called vesicles. Both decompression and crystallization can trigger an explosive
eruption.
As the magma reaches the Earth’s surface it explodes due to the presence of dissolved gases. The type of
explosion of a volcano is dependent on the composition of magma.

D. VOLCANIC HAZARDS AND THEIR EFFECTS

• Volcanic hazards are phenomena arising from volcanic activity that poses potential threat to people and
property. During major explosive eruptions, large amounts of volcanic gas, aerosol droplets, and ash are
injected into the stratosphere.
• Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is also dispersed into the atmosphere that leads to global warming.
• On the other hand, sulfur dioxide can cause global cooling, ozone destruction and air pollution.

❖ Volcanic hazards common in the Philippine:

• ASH FALL
▪ It is a pulverized rock, sand, gritty and harsh glasses shot out in the air by volcano.
▪ Ash fall can travel long distances depending on wind strength, often covering wide areas.
▪ Its effects include respiratory issues, skin and eye irritation in humans, contamination of water
sources, and destruction of crops.
▪ Proper precautions, like wearing masks and staying indoors, are essential during ashes fall events.

• MUD FLOW
▪ Characterized by a mixture of water, molten rocks and debris flowing down from the side of volcano
to the ground. It is also called Lahar.
▪ They can bury homes, change the shape of rivers, and damage roads and bridges.
▪ To stay safe, people should avoid river valleys near volcanoes and follow evacuation orders during
eruptions.
 • LAVA FLOW
▪ It is characterized by streams of molten rocks and other fragmented materials emitted by erupting
volcanoes.
▪ Lava moves slowly, giving people time to leave the area, but it is very hot and destroys everything it
touches.
▪ Lava can burn houses, trees, and roads, and it can change the land forever.
▪ Although lava flows don’t often kill people, they can cause a lot of damage to buildings and the
environment.

• PYROCLASTIC FLOW
▪ It is characterized by fast-moving hot mixture of gas, ash, and molten rocks moving away from the
volcano to the ground.
▪ It moves very quickly, faster than a car, and is extremely hot, burning everything in its path.
▪ Pyroclastic flows can kill people and animals instantly and destroy buildings, forests, and roads.
▪ To stay safe, people need to evacuate early because these flows are too fast to outrun.

E. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER VOLCANIC ERUPTION

The following are list of the Precautionary measures that can be practiced to lessen the danger before, during, and
after a volcanic eruption:

❖ BEFORE
▪ Know the facts about volcanoes in your area like danger zones and history of eruptions.
▪ Know the location of designated evacuation site.
▪ Listen to the announcement of your authorities.
▪ Stock clean and safe drinking water and other food supplies.

❖ DURING
▪ Stay inside your homes and keep doors and windows closed.
▪ Secure your water and food supplies.
▪ Wear mask, eye googles or face shield if you need to go out.
▪ Do not go near the danger zones.
▪ Listen to the news via television or radio devices.
▪ Obey the evacuation orders of the authorities.

❖ AFTER
▪ Assess the situation if it is safe to go out.
▪ Check the perimeter of your house for any possible damage.
▪ Clean and remove the volcanic ashes in the roof, gutters, and windows.
▪ Replace contaminated water and food supplies.
▪ Stay updated in news and announcements from your authorities.