CO QAH + MELC LW

HANDOUT No. 7
Course Outline & Quality Assured
Handouts paired with MELC- in DISASTER READINESS AND RISK
Based Learner’s Worksheet REDUCTION

MELC:
16. Recognize signs of an impending volcanic eruption (DRR11/12-Ih-i-24)
17. Interpret different volcano hazard maps (DRR11/12-ih-i-25)
Semester: 2 Week No.7 Day: 1-4
LESSON: SIGNS OF IMPENDING VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

Don’t stay in the ring of fire!

The Philippines is said to be of volcanic origin creating an archipelago of more than 7100 islands.
There are hundreds of volcanoes in the Philippines and is frequently cited among the top countries most
at risk to disasters. Even without scientific scrutiny, every Filipino is familiar with the impacts of volcanic
eruptions, and fires to everyday life and to national development. This makes learning about disaster
preparedness aligned with everyone’s interest.

Topic 1:Signs of Impending Volcano Eruptions

Volcanic eruption is one of the most dangerous natural events because of the different hazards that it may
bring as discussed previously. While volcanoes may give off several warning signs they are about to blow, some
are taken more seriously by volcanologists who alert and advise government officials regarding when evacuations
need to take place. These early warning signs make it easier for people to prepare and prevent damages to
properties and loss of lives

What are the natural signs of an impending volcanic eruption? The following are commonly
observed signs that a volcano is about to erupt. These precursors may vary from volcano to
volcano.
1. Increase in the frequency of volcanic quakes with rumbling sounds; occurrence of
volcanic tremor

Source: Zoback, Mary Lou, Eric Geist, John Pallister, David P. Hill, Simon Young, and Wendy McCausland. "Advances in natural hazard
science and assessment, 1963–2013." Geological society of America, special papers 501 (2013): 81-154.

Volcanic earthquakes serve as an early warning sign for an impending eruption, as well as well as a
marker for the location of a moving magma and sudden rise of gases. Earthquakes are caused by the
magma breaking through rocks or by moving through rock cracks. On the other hand, volcanic tremor is
a long-lasting rhythmic signal associated with magma in motion that can last for minutes or days

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2. Increased steaming activity; change in color of steam from white to gray due to entrained ash

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2003), Volcano Hazards Program – Heat/Thermal, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/thermal.html

Steam occurs mostly on active volcanoes. Presence of steam signals that magma is lying relatively close
to the surface of the volcano. Steam is produced when groundwater and magma or any ignited fragment
of rock interacts. Meanwhile, ash is one of the fragments of magma produced when magma is ejected
with great force. Presence of ashes signals that the magma is being ejected violently.

3. Crater glow due to presence of magma at or near the crater

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2013.), Glossary – Lava Lake, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/glossary/lavalake.html

Crater glow can be observed when the magma finally reaches the surface, and thus referred as lava.

4. Ground swells (or inflation), ground tilt and ground fissuring due to magma intrusion

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Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2011), Glossary – Fissure, July 20, 2020, retrieved from https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/glossary/fissure.html

Moving magma, gases, and other volcanic fluids tend to cause the surface of the Earth to bulge
upward (inflate) or spread apart which can eventually lead to ground fissuring or cracking.

5. Localized landslides, rock falls and landslides from the summit area that are not attributed to heavy
rains

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (1980), Volcano Hazards – Volcanic Landslides, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/landslides.html

Landslide is the movement of rocks and soil influenced by the force of gravity, strength of the material,
and steepness of a volcano. As magma rises together with volcanic gases, rocks are altered and
weakened.

6. Noticeable increase in drying up of vegetation around the volcano's upper slopes

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 Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2012), Monitoring efforts at Mount St. Helens, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/st_helens/st_helens_gallery_31.html

As the magma rises, the temperature of the volcano also increases. The heat brought by the rising
magma if high enough, can dry up the vegetation.

7. Increase in temperature of hot springs, wells (e.g. Bulusan and Canlaon) and crater lake (e.g. Taal)
near the volcano

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2019), Imperial Geyser looking south, Yellowstone, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/imperial-geyser-looking-south-yellowstone

Again, as the magma rises, the temperature of the volcano also increases. The heat brought by the rising
magma influences and causes the temperature of the springs, wells, or lake to increase.

8. Noticeable variation in the chemical content of springs, crater lakes within the vicinity of the volcano

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 Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2011), Volcano Hazards Program – Gas and Water, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/gas_types.html#:~:text=Water%20chemistry%20changes%20can%20be,from%20a%20deeper%20volcanic%20source.

Groundwater deep within the surface of the volcano interacts with magma, volcanic gases, host rocks,
and even with other water coming from springs, lakes, wells. Presence of certain compounds signals the
presence of magma such as magmatic carbon dioxide, or high helium isotopes.

9. Drying up of springs/wells around the volcano

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (2019), Contrasting photos of Heart Spring from 1988 and 2019 Yellowstone, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/contrasting-photos-heart-spring-1988-and-2019-yellowstone

As mentioned, rising magma generates quakes and tremors which may cause ground deformation
(cracks or fissures) on the surface. This may cause the water from springs or well to recede and seep
through these cracks. Also, as the magma rise, the temperature of the surface of the volcano also
increases and if high enough, may cause the drying up of the springs and wells.

10. Development of new thermal areas and/or reactivation of old ones;

appearance of solfataras (craters with sulpur gas

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 Source: U.S. Geological Survey (1973), Glossary – Fumarole, July 20, 2020, retrieved from
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/glossary/fumarole.html

Development of new thermal areas and/or reactivation of old ones signals the active movement of
magma within the volcano as it interacts with groundwater or rocks.

Therefore, it is important to be able to observe warning signs of volcanic unrest so that people can
evacuate in time, and minimize injuries and casualties. It is therefore important to be able to monitor a
volcano’s activity, and this is normally done with the aid of different tools or instruments to monitor the
different parameters.

The parameters used to monitor volcanoes are:

1. Ground deformation – any surface changes on a volcano (subsidence/sinking, tilting, bulging); often
use of tiltmeters as well as satellite imaging which results to less exposure on the ground or safer for
volcanologists. However, interpretation needs field verification sometimes.

2. Seismic Activity – when magma rises up, it breaks rock along the way. Thus, earthquakes are
generated. Monitoring of quakes/tremors is done by using a seismometer that determines which patterns
of seismic waves precede an eruption.

3. Gases – monitor types and rate of emission of different gases; Concentrations of gases are
sometimes high enough to create acid rain that kills vegetation around the volcano; collection of samples
from vents directly with the use of remote sensing instruments that identify and quantify the present
gases

4. Sensory observations (by people living near volcano)

• Visual – intensified presence of steam; drying up of vegetation, wells/spring/lake; crater glow at the
mouth of the volcano
• Auditory – rumbling sounds are heard.
• Olfactory – observed foul smell (usually rotten egg caused by sulfur) caused by presence of volcanic
gases
• Tactile – ground movement/earthquake is felt

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 Other warnings signs of an impending volcanic eruption is also given by the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology. These are the following:

1. Volcanic quakes suddenly increased in frequency

2. Increase in volcanic tremors
3. Increase steaming activity
4. Change in color of steam emission
5. Crater glows
6. Localized landslides and rock falls due to volcanic tremors
7. Vegetation around the volcano’s upper slopes dries.
8. Temperature of hot springs and wells near the volcano suddenly increase
9. Changes in the chemical content of springs located on the crater or near the volcano
10. Drying up of springs and wells around the volcano
11. Appearance of solfataras. Solfatara is a volcanic area or vent that yields only hot vapors and
sulphurous gases.

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Figure 3 PYROCLASTIC FLOWS FROM MT. PINATUBO

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 REFERENCES

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