Volcanic Eruption: Are you prepared?

Volcanic Eruption:

Are you prepared?Grade 9, Module 3 Lesson 1.3

(Teachers’ Guide for Discussion)

MA. RACHEL B. ESPINO

Teacher I, Science

Buhatan NHS, Sorsogon City

How do volcanic eruptions

affect the society?Explosive volcanic eruptions pose both short-term

and long-term hazards. Lava flows and lahars can

wipe out the flanks of mountainsides. Volcanic ash

can blanket the landscape for miles, and ash clouds

can disrupt aircraft travel, such as the incident in

2013 when a volcano in Iceland caused a shut down

in all air flights in Europe. On longer time scales,

eruptions can inject massive quantities of ash into the

atmosphere, greatly reducing the solar heating of the

Earth and potentially interrupting the global food

supply for several years.

In 1991, Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted, and

strong winds spread the aerosol particles from the

plume around the globe. The result was a

measurable cooling of the Earth's surface for a period

of almost two years.

Volcanoes also affect people positively. For example,

the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo has created spectacular

scenery. People became creative also by making

earthenware out of the ash fall. Likewise, the eruption

of Mt. Musuan in Bukidnon has produced very rich

soil for farming years after its eruption in 1867.

Economic Value of Volcanoes

1. Stream from fumaroles (fissures or hols from

which steam and other hot gases escape) is

harnessed to produce geothermal energy, in

turn used to generate electricity.

2. The gases released are 94% steam mixed

with carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide,

ammonia, methane and helium. Sulfur

dioxide is made into sulfuic acid. ammonia is

used in fertilizers. Methane is used for fuel.

Helium is used in smelting and in filling

ballons and dirigibles.


3. Ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate

and boric acid are derived from steam and

hot water.

4. Hydrogen sulfide gas oxidizes to form water

and sulfur which is responsible for larger

sulfur deposits.

5. Traprock is used to build roads.

6. Pumice is used for grinding and polishing.

7. Tuff is used as building stone.


8. Lava and volcanic ash make the soil that

covers wide areas around a volcano fertile.

9. Volcanoes add beauty to the landscape and

attract tourist.

Despite the advantages that people get from volcanic

eruption, the major concern now is how to reduce the

negative effects of the disaster to reduce loss and

save lives.

Signs of an Impending Volcanic Eruption:

1. Increase in the frequency of volcanic

quakes with rumbling sounds;

occurrence of volcanic tremor.

2. Increased in the frequency of volcanic

activity; change in color of steam

emission from white to gray due to

entrained ash.


3. Crater glow due to presence of magma

at or near the crater.

4. Ground swells (or inflation), ground tilt

and ground fissuring due to magma

intrusion.

5. Localized landslides and rock falls from

the summit area which is not

attributable to heavy rains.


6. Noticeable increase in the extent of

drying up of vegetation around the

volcano’s upper slopes.

7. Increase in the temperature of hot

springs and crater lake.

8. Noticeable variation in the chemical

content of springs, crater lakes within

the vicinity of the volcano.


9. Drying up of spring well around the

volcano

10. Development of new thermal areas

and/ or reactivation of old ones;

appearance of solfatara.

(A solfatara is a volcanic vent emitting

only sulphurous gases and water

vapour or sometimes hot mud.)

Key Facts About Protecting Yourself After

a Volcanic Eruption:

1. Pay attention to warnings, and obey

instructions from local authorities. For

example, stay indoors until local health

officials tell you it is safe to go outside.

2. Listen to local news updates for

information about air quality, drinking

water, and roads.



3. Turn off all heating and air conditioning

units and fans, and close windows,

doors, and fireplace and woodstove

dampers to help keep ash and gases

from getting into your house. Listen to

local news updates for information

about air quality, drinking water, and

roads.



4. Exposure to ash can harm your health,

particularly the respiratory (breathing)

tract. To protect yourself while you are

outdoors or while you are cleaning up

ash that has gotten indoors, a

disposable particulate respirator (also

known as an “air purifying respirator”)

may be considered.



5. Stay away from ashfall areas, if

possible. Avoid contact with ash as

much as you can.

6. Keep your skin covered to avoid

irritation from contact with ash. Wear

goggles to protect your eyes from ash.



7. Do not travel unless you have to.

Driving in ash is hazardous to your

health and your car. Driving will stir up

more ash that can clog engines and

stall vehicles.

8. Replace disposable furnace filters or

clean permanent furnace filters

frequently.



9. If your drinking water has ash in it, use

another source of drinking water, such

as purchased bottled water, until your

water can be tested.

10. Clear roofs of ash. Ash is very heavy

and can cause buildings to collapse.Be

very cautious when working on a roof.

Ash can be slippery and make it easy

to fall.

Suggested Videos

• Pinatubo’s Tragedy: Philippines (is a

documentary about the effects of the

Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 and how

Filipinos cope up with the tragedy.)

http://youtu.be/bbSAjT12k7s


Suggested Videos

• Mount Vesuvius : Documentary on the

Formation and Dangers of the Vesuvius

Volcano (is a documentary about the

eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Naples as shown

by the haunting images of people who were

“frozen” in time. It is suggested that the

teacher guide the students in watching

because of some poignant scenes )



Additional References:

• http://solidearth.jpl.nasa.gov/PAGES/v

olc03.html

• http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/volcan

oes/after.asp

http://solidearth.jpl.nasa.gov/PAGES/volc03.html

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/volcanoes/after.asp

Volcanic Eruption: Are you prepared?

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