How long does it take for a volcano to cool?
Volcanoes usually have a life of many thousands of years. Once a volcano has begun to
erupt, it usually takes about ten years before that particular eruption comes to
an end.
How does a volcano build up the pressure to erupt?
The magma (molten rock) which is erupted from a volcano comes from deep inside the
earth — usually from about 150 kilometers deep. There is enormous pressure and
it forces the magma to rise through the crust of solid rocks, creating a
volcanic eruption.
How can you tell if a volcanic eruption might occur?
Volcanoes that are approaching an eruption will usually have unusual earthquakes and emit
very different gases. Some of the volcanoes even change shape — like the "bulge"
of Mount St. Helens that moved toward Seattle at about four meters per day.
At what speed does a volcano erupt?
There are many different speeds that we try to measure or estimate with erupting
volcanoes. When volcanoes erupt explosively, they throw rocks at velocities of
200,300 m/sec. After the initial eruption, the volcanoes may release a lava
flow. The lava flow usually goes slowly, about a few m/hour.
Can volcanoes blow up out the sides, rather than top?
Yes. Mount St. Helens is a good example of a volcano blowing out of the side, and it
is not an unusual thing.
What happens to the sea animals that live in areas around the volcanoes when they
erupt?
Oceanic volcanoes can release strong acid water, which is harmful to sea life. This is
happening at Fernandina volcano in the Galápagos.
Volcanoes usually have a life of many thousands of years. Once a volcano has begun to
erupt, it usually takes about ten years before that particular eruption comes to
an end.
How does a volcano build up the pressure to erupt?
The magma (molten rock) which is erupted from a volcano comes from deep inside the
earth — usually from about 150 kilometers deep. There is enormous pressure and
it forces the magma to rise through the crust of solid rocks, creating a
volcanic eruption.
How can you tell if a volcanic eruption might occur?
Volcanoes that are approaching an eruption will usually have unusual earthquakes and emit
very different gases. Some of the volcanoes even change shape — like the "bulge"
of Mount St. Helens that moved toward Seattle at about four meters per day.
At what speed does a volcano erupt?
There are many different speeds that we try to measure or estimate with erupting
volcanoes. When volcanoes erupt explosively, they throw rocks at velocities of
200,300 m/sec. After the initial eruption, the volcanoes may release a lava
flow. The lava flow usually goes slowly, about a few m/hour.
Can volcanoes blow up out the sides, rather than top?
Yes. Mount St. Helens is a good example of a volcano blowing out of the side, and it
is not an unusual thing.
What happens to the sea animals that live in areas around the volcanoes when they
erupt?
Oceanic volcanoes can release strong acid water, which is harmful to sea life. This is
happening at Fernandina volcano in the Galápagos.
There are 28 volcanoes in the Luzon region, but 5 are considered very active:
Bulusan.........................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Mayon...........................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Pinatubo........................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Taal................................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Ambalatungan Group.........................................................................................................................................................Compound Volcano
The Mayon volcano is the most active volcano, followed by the Taal volcano.
Bulusan.........................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Mayon...........................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Pinatubo........................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Taal................................................................................................................................................................................................Strato Volcano
Ambalatungan Group.........................................................................................................................................................Compound Volcano
The Mayon volcano is the most active volcano, followed by the Taal volcano.
Mayon Volcano
This volcano has a very high danger risk to the eight cities surrounding it. The almost perfect symmetrical cone volcano serves as a divider in the middle of Luzon. It has eight pie slices off of its peak to mark the boundaries of each city: Legazpi, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Tabaco, Malilipot, and Santa Domingo. Mayon is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is located on the eastern side of Luzon, near the Philippine Trench. This trench is part of a convergent boundary where the Philippine Sea Plate is driven under the Philippine Mobile Belt. This volcano erupts very frequently. Taal Volcano The Taal volcano is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes of the Philippines. Taal has had some of the country's largest and deadliest eruptions: At least 6 eruptions during the recorded history of Taal since 1572. It has claimed fatalities, mostly from powerful pyroclastic flows, as well as tsunamis produced in the crater lake. High risk cities include Balete, Tagaytay, Laurel, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Taal, Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, Cuenca, and Mataas Na kahoy. Ash and gases released from volcanoes, pose many threats to citizens. |
Pinatubo Volcano
Mount Pinatubo is located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga. It is located in the Cabusilan Mountains separating the west coast of Luzon from the central plains. One eruption from this volcano created so much ash and sulfuric acid, that countries far away were feeling the effects. Its high risk cities are Bamban, Mabalacat City, and Angeles. Ambalatungan Group The Ambalatungan group is a cluster of several volcanoes on northern Luzon Island, Philippines, consisting of Ambalatungan, Bumabag, Podakan, and Binuluan volcanoes, aligned roughly east to west. The Ambalatungan volcano has a steep-walled crater, and inside there are hot springs and strong fumarolic vents which produce loud noises and have sulphur deposits. These sulphur vents have been known to let sulphur escape into the air, which can kill people if inhaled. 12 people have died because of this. High risk cities include Bontoc, Tinglayan, Tabuk, and Pinukpuk. Bulusan Volcano Bulusan is Luzon's southernmost volcano. It lies at the SE end of the Bicol volcanic arc occupying the peninsula of the same name that forms the elongated SE tip of Luzon island. Its eruptions are also very explosive. Its main high risk cities are Bulusan and Irosin. |
All volcanoes in the Luzon area are possible because of the Ring of Fire, a tectonic plate diverging from other plates, allowing magma to rise through them or make the land rise. Also, almost all of Luzon has a possibility of an eruption being dangerous to their city, whether it be an eruption or steam and ash covering the sky.