VOLCANO

RESEARCHER NAMES

Atienza, Edward Joshua

Ayanan, Rhyzen Louize P.
Benegas, Joesel JR. R.
Centeno, Katherine Kaith D.
Escobin, Jasper S.
Retolosa, Rhien Gabriel A.
Romulo, Ireneo III S.
Maceda, Santino O.
Manjares, Dominic Jay H.

A Research Paper

Presented to Sir Louelle Gamata Marcellana

Kapayapaan Integrated School
Canlubang, Calamba City
“When the Earth Gets Angry:

Understanding Volcanoes in Real

life”

INTRODUCTION

Volcanoes are geologic structures through which molten rock (magma), gas, and

ash issue onto the surface of a planet or moon. Volcanology investigates the processes

of magma generation, rise, and eruption, and the landforms and hazards produced.

The volcano is a mountain or the vent in the Earth's surface through which magma also

known as molten rock, ash, and gasses escape above the Earth's crust.
INFORMATION ABOUT VOLCANOES

Volcanoes are created when magma deep within the Earth moves up to the surface

and erupts, forming a conical mountain. This most often happens at plate edges or

hotspots where magma is able to penetrate the Earth's crust.

Volcanoes erupt when pressure has built up in the form of magma (molten rock) and

gases beneath the Earth and they are able to escape.

Volcanoes erupt because pressure is generated by magma (molten rock) and gases

that accumulate under the Earth's surface and seek an exit.

HOW A VOLCANO IS QUANTIFIED:

Volcanoes are quantified with a suite of methods, mainly to determine the size and

explosivity of eruptions and to look for possible indications of unrest. The Volcanic

Explosivity Index (VEI) is utilized to quantify the size and power of eruptions, while an

assortment of instruments track ground deformation, seismicity, gas emissions, and

thermal alterations.
The volcano is a mountain or the vent in the Earth’s surface where magma also referred

to as molten rock, ash, and gasses escape above Earth’s crust.

MAIN COMPONENTS OF A VOLCANO

Magma chamber – location of molten rock underground

Vent – vent when the magma erupts

Lava – when the magma erupts on the surface it is referred to as lava

Crater – the bowl-shaped top part of the volcano

Simple Definition: Volcano is a natural vent on Earth's surface it lets out hot lava, ash,

and gases during an eruption.

THREE MAIN TYPES OF VOLCANOES

CINDER VOLCANO

Cinder cones are the most basic volcanoes. They create themselves when magma

rises, the earth trembles, and an explosion sends lava, ash, and gas upward. The lava

cools into small, bubbly rocks called cinders, which fall and pile up around the vent,

forming a cone-shaped hill. Wind can blow the cinders, creating an oval shape. Lava

may also flow from the vent. At the top, you’ll usually see a bowl-shaped crater. If
eruptions keep happening at the same spot, a larger composite volcano can form.

Cinder cones can be seen everywhere, particularly in the western part of North America.

STRATO VOLCANO OR COMPOSITE VOLCANO

Composite volcanoes, or stratovolcanoes, are among the most formidable and iconic

volcanoes on the planet. They possess steep, high sides and are constructed over time

from numerous layers of cooled lava, volcanic ash, and rock pieces. These layers

accumulate as a result of frequent explosive eruptions. Some composite volcanoes

stand thousands of feet above the surrounding ground and even taller when measured

from sea level.

SHIELD VOLCANO

Shield volcanoes are created when thin, flowing lava erupts slowly from the summit

or fissures around the edge, extending far in every direction. Eventually, the lava

constructs a broad, low, dome-shaped mountain resembling a warrior's shield. Shield

volcanoes develop gradually with numerous layers of lava and can grow to enormous

sizes.
LAVA DOME

Lava domes are not volcanoes, but a landform that develops during some eruptions.

They occur when slow-moving thick lava exudes slowly from a vent and accumulates

since it's too gooey to travel very far. Some are spiky, others like flower or muffin-

shaped petals. They tend to form in craters or on the flanks of larger volcanoes. When

new magma tops up the dome, the exterior breaks and yields hot rocks and gas to

speed downhill.

ACTIVE VOLCANO

An active volcano is a volcano that still has life within it. Even though it isn't spewing

right now, it shows it can do so in the future. If it's erupted in the last 11,650 years, it's

active—because that indicates it still has hot, flowing magma under the surface, ready

to erupt again.

INACTIVE VOLCANO

An inactive volcano, or a dormant volcano, is one which has not erupted in a very

long time but is not "dead." It's simply resting—for the time being. Although it might

appear still, it can still one day erupt, even though we have no way of knowing when

that will be.

DORMANT VS. EXTINCT: WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

Both kinds aren't erupting at the moment, but an extinct volcano is believed to be

finished for good—no more eruptions in sight. A dormant volcano, however, is simply

taking a very long time out and could wake up someday.

LIST OF ACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Mt. Mayon (Albay) at around 2,463 m high

• Taal Volcano (Batangas) at 311 m high

• Pinatubo (Zambales) at 1,486 m high

• Mt. Bulusan (Sorsogon) at 1,559 m high

• Mt. Banahaw (Laguna and Quezon) at 2,158 m

• Mt. Iriga (Camarines Sur) at 1,196 m high

• Mt. Isarog (Camarines Sur at the Island of Luzon) at 1,966 m high

• Camiguin de Babuyanes (Babuyan Archipelago north of Luzon) at 712 m high

• Didicas Volcano (Cagayan) at 228m

• Babuyan Claro (Babuyan Island) at 1,007m high

• Mt. Kanlaon (Negros Island, the highest peak in Central Visayas) at 2,435m high

• Biliran (Biliran Island) at 1,340m high

• Mt. Cabalian (Leyte Island) at 945m high

• Mt. Hibok-hibok (Camiguin Island) at 1,332m high

• Mt. Makaturing (Lanao del Sur on Mindanao Island) at 1,908m high

• Mt. Matumtum (South Cotabato) at 2,286m high

 • Musuan Peak (South Cotabato) at 646m

LIST OF INACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE PHILIPPINES

• Mt. Arayat (Pampanga, Luzon) – 1,026 m high

• Mt. Apo (Davao del Sur and Cotabato, Mindanao – tallest mountain in the

Philippines) – 2,956 m high

• Mt. Malindang (Misamis Occidental, Mindanao) – 2,404 m high

• Mt. Balatukan (Misamis Oriental, Mindanao) – 2,560 m high

• Mt. Cuernos de Negros (Negros Oriental) – 1,864 m high

• Mt. Mariveles (Bataan Peninsula, Luzon) – 1,388 m high

• Mt. Makiling (Laguna, Luzon) – 1,090 m high

THREE EARTH-SHAKING VOLCANOES:

The Taal Volcano was created by subduction, in which the Philippine Sea Plate is

being pushed under the Eurasian Plate. The result of this is the melting of rock and the

creation of magma. Successive explosions of magma and ash over time constructed

the volcano within a big collapsed crater known as the Taal Caldera that resulted from

an older and much larger eruption.

Taal Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. It is being closely

monitored by PHIVOLCS due to its frequent display of volcanic activity in the form of

steam emissions, volcanic earthquakes, and elevated gas emissions.

Taal Volcano has erupted over 30 times since the 1500s and is one of the most eruptive

volcanoes in the country.

The largest eruption of Taal ever recorded was in 1911. It destroyed around 1,300 lives

and resulted in powerful earthquakes, ash fall, and fatal mudflows (lahars).

Taal is not inactive. Even if it is dormant for years, it can still erupt. Since it's in an active

tectonic region, it is still being viewed as an active volcano by scientists.

Taal erupts when pressure becomes excessive within the magma chamber. When

this pressure gets too intense, it pushes magma and gas to the surface, leading to an

eruption. Eruption is normally caused by movement of magma, tectonic activity, or

volcanic gas release such as sulfur dioxide.

Taal Volcano stands some 311 meters above sea level. It is located within the wider

Taal Caldera, which measures 25–30 kilometers in diameter. The tiny volcanic island

within Taal Lake is referred to as Volcano Island.

Taal Volcano's last eruption was December 3, 2024.

Mount Pinatubo was formed through subduction. That is, one of the tectonic plates,

the Eurasian Plate, is slowly pushed under another plate, the Philippine Sea Plate.

Pressure pushes the magma deep in the ground, and over millions of years, successive

volcanic eruptions built the mountain we now have as Mount Pinatubo.

Pinatubo is an active volcano, but currently, it's in a dormant state. It cooled down a

great deal after its massive eruption in 1991. Minor earthquakes and steam venting have
taken place from time to time, but it hasn't erupted since then. Before 1991, no eruptions

in the past 600 years had been documented. But when the researchers did conduct

research in the region, they found proof of at least six major eruptions in the past few

thousand years. So it had a pretty active past—just we didn't have it documented until

now.

The most intense eruption was on 15th June 1991 and was one of the biggest

eruptions of the entire 20th century. Ash went 35 kilometers up into the air, and the

eruption was so intense that it cooled the planet's temperature for some time. It brought

about tremendous destruction and impacted millions of lives in and around the

Philippines.

Can it go dormant? It is probable, though, that it would be an infinitely long time—

probably thousands of years of quiet—before Mount Pinatubo can be said to be

dormant. Because it still displays signs of activity below ground, scientists monitor it

closely in case it should erupt again. The 1991 eruption took place due to

the pressure building with the magma rising up to the surface. It was due to tectonic

plate movement, volcanic gases coming out and even rainwater getting incorporated

into the magma. All that pressure had to be released somewhere—and when it did, it

erupted with a vengeance.

Mount Pinatubo stands at about 1,486 meters at present. It was higher before, since

the eruption in June 1991 knocked off the peak of the mountain. There is a huge crater

remaining now, which is filled with water to create the beautiful Lake Pinatubo. Mount

Pinatubo's last eruption was July 15, 1991.

 Mount Kanlaon was created by the movement of the Earth's plate — i.e., the

subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate. All the pressure was

accumulated under the earth, so the magma had to move upwards. The continuous

lava, ash, and rock eruptions accumulated over time and developed the volcano layer

after layer.

Mt. Kanlaon is among the Philippines' active volcanoes. It is closely watched

because it has been erupting on a regular basis in the past and exhibiting unrest

indicators like the emission of steam, volcanic earthquakes, and explosive ash.

Because record time began in the 1800s, Mount Kanlaon has already erupted over 30

times. Mount Kanlaon eruptions are generally mild to moderate but can still persist to

produce ashfall and unrest in the region.

One of its largest eruptions on record occurred in 1902, which was highly

devastating. More recently, in 1996, there was a spontaneous eruption, which resulted

in the death of mountaineers at the summit. These events indicate that even though

eruptions at times seem small, they are still potentially deadly.

Can it be activated? Technically, yes — volcanoes do become dormant or inactive after

several years. But for now, Kanlaon is still active and is still an active volcano, so it

won't be becoming dormant anytime soon.

Eruptions happen when: Magma rises and builds pressure beneath the surface

Water meets hot rock or magma to form steam explosions (phreatic eruptions)

Or when there is volcanic activity and the volcano trembles and pushes the magma

upwards.
Mount Kanlaon is the highest mountain in the Visayas and stands at approximately

2,465 meters (8,087 feet) above sea level.

Mount Kanlaon's last eruption was May 13, 2025.

AFTER OUR THREE EARTH-SHAKING VOLCANOES, HERE ARE THREE NON-

ERUPTING VOLCANOES:

Mount Arayat was formed many thousands of years ago as a result of volcanic

activity caused by the movement of Earth's plates. The magma from below the earth's

crust slowly rose and lodged in the volcano. It later formed the cone-shaped mountain

that it is today.

Mount Arayat is thought to be an extinct volcano or a dormant one. It never erupted

historically, and geologists think that it has no active volcanism.

There are no historical eruptions of Mount Arayat. There are prehistoric eruptions

documented in local legend, but there is no scientific record that it erupted in the last

centuries.

Since we have no records of its eruptions, we cannot conclude for sure when and to

what extent its former eruptions were. Nevertheless, scientists estimate that it was a

volcano that existed in the remote past.

Mount Arayat is already deemed to be dormant. It hasn't had any activity for thousands

of years, so it is less probable to erupt.

 If Mount Arayat had already erupted earlier, then there should be some magma

pressure that had been building up underground, like most volcanoes. Since it is now

dormant, it does not show any of those indications at present.

Mount Arayat is about 1,026 meters high. It stands as an isolated volcano in the

Pampanga plains and is renowned for its symmetry and legend.

Reason it’s inactive: Mount Arayat does not have any documented history of eruptions,

and there are no major indications of ongoing volcanic activity (e.g., ground

deformation, earthquakes, or gas emission).

Mount Batulao was formed a long, long time ago through volcanic activity. Magma

deep, deep beneath the Earth's surface forced its way up and constructed the mountain

step by step layer by layer through volcanic eruptions. It formed the beautiful jagged

peaks and ridges we see today over time.

Mount Batulao is thought to be an extinct or dormant volcano. It has not erupted for

thousands of years. There are no volcanism or eruptions associated with it.

There have been no recent eruptions of Mount Batulao. We think that it erupted long

ago, but we have no records or scientific accounts.

Since no eruptions occurred, we don't know anything about any "strongest" eruption.

If it did erupt, whatever effects there were long ago have worn away and created today's

mountain shape.

Mount Batulao is already dormant, and it probably has been for millennia. There is no

active threat of eruption, so it is safe and popular for hiking and tourism.
Reason it’s inactive: Mount Batulao is described as an extremely old volcanic structure

which never erupted in recorded history.

Mount Batulao is approximately 811 meters high above sea level. It might not be the

tallest volcano, but it is famous for its conical peaks, cold climate, and lovely hiking

trails in Batangas.

Mount Makiling was formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Magma far

below the Earth's surface came up to the surface through cracks, accumulating the

mountain layer upon layer of lava, ash, and rock. Over time, this resulted in the dense,

wooded volcano we know now. Mount Makiling is a dormant volcano. That is, it has not

erupted in ages, but it is not extinct either. It still has signs of heat in the ground, such

as hot springs and steam vents, so it is not entirely dormant.

There are no known eruptions of Mount Makiling in the past. However, scientists

believe that it has erupted a long time ago based on volcanic rocks that were discovered

in the area.

Since Mount Makiling never erupted in the past, we actually do not know what was

the most powerful eruption. But in the past, it could have had eruptions strong enough

to create its rough contours and crater.

It is possible that Mount Makiling could become completely inactive or extinct if it

continues to be dormant for thousands of years. However, currently, since it still has

some geothermal activity (i.e., hot springs), it is not extinct but dormant
Reason it's possibly inactive (dormant): Mount Makiling has no recorded historical

eruptions, but it has hot springs and steam vents in its vicinity, which means that it is

not extinct but dormant.

Mount Makiling is approximately 1,090 meters tall. It's in Laguna, and it's not only

known for its form and beauty, but also for the legend of Maria Makiling, the mystical

protector of the mountain.

Volcanoes look intimidating at first sight, with all those smoke, lava, and fireballs

exploding everywhere. But surprisingly enough, they also have plenty of good stuff to

offer!

Volcanic eruptions produce incredibly fertile soil that makes plants grow very well.

That's why it's common for farms that are close to volcanoes to have great crops.

Batangas and Albay in the Philippines are good examples!

Volcanoes also provide us with clean energy. Far beneath the earth's surface, the heat

of a volcano can be harnessed to generate geothermal power, a natural and

environmentally friendly means of producing electricity.

They also draw tourists to them from all over the planet. Hiking, photographing, and

bathing in natural hot springs are all favorite activities of people and this also benefits

local communities and businesses in making money.

Believe it or not, volcanoes even produce valuable minerals such as gold and silver

from far beneath the Earth. That's why land close to volcanoes might be full of natural

resources.

And here's a cool fact. Volcanoes actually form new land! Islands were created

completely by volcanic eruptions.

Finally, learning about volcanoes allows scientists to know more about the Earth and

enhance warnings before eruptions occur, which can prevent loss of life.

Though as powerful and good as volcanoes are, they do have major dangers,

particularly if and when they erupt.

The most apparent consequence is the destruction. Lava can destroy houses, roads,

and fields, and ash can blanket entire towns by falling. Individuals may lose everything

they possess within hours.

Volcanic eruptions also injure or even kill you, particularly if they are sudden. The hot

gases, rocks, and ash that fly everywhere kill you when you are near.

Volcanic ash from the eruption does not just fall nearby. It can travel far, even to other

towns. Volcanic ash can cause respiratory disturbances, obstruct sunlight, and be

inconvenient for airplanes.

Another threat is lahars these are rapid mudflows of water and ash that pour out from

volcanoes like streams of wet cement. They have the ability to turn everything in their

path to rubble.
Volcanoes also impact the climate for a short time. When a large amount of ash and gas

enter the atmosphere, they can cloud sunlight and reduce the temperature of the earth

for a few months.

And of course, eruptions have a tendency to force people to evacuate their homes and

stay in evacuation centers, something that is quite difficult and painful, especially for

children and families.

So while volcanoes are such natural marvels, we need to be mindful of their strength

as well, because when they do erupt, the devastation is life-changing.

In conclusion, volcanoes are powerful natural structures that still shape our world.

Through this research, we have discovered how they form, the different shapes, their

activity levels, and how they impact man and nature. Even though they are destructive

and harmful, volcanoes also have the benefits of fertile land, geothermal energy, and

even tourism. Through the further discovery of volcanoes, we can better comprehend

the workings of the Earth and become more skilled at predicting eruptions and saving

lives and communities. With our advancing knowledge, we are reminded that even the

most powerful forces of nature must have their role in the balance of life on Earth.