Parts of Volcano

Lesson
Objectives :

Given the necessary materials, the students should be able to:

– 1. understand why Philippines has many volcanoes;
– 2. describe the different parts of a volcano; and
– 3. identify some of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines.
Engage

– What are the internal and external structures

of a volcano?
Volcanoes have external structures
namely: the base, flank, crater (some may
have caldera) and vent; and internal
structures namely: the magma chamber,
conduit, throat, and piles of ash and lava
layers.
 External Structures of a Volcano
Base – external bottom part of the volcano
supporting the entire
body
Flank – the sloping side
Vent – an opening where the magma can flow
Crater – lies in the mouth of volcano or circular
depression
Caldera – a huge circular depression with a
diameter of thousand meters and depth of
hundred meters.
Flank vent – smaller openings where magma may
pass through which are created on the side of the
volcano.
Internal Structures of a Volcano
Magma Chamber – an underground open zone
where magma accumulates
Conduit – the path where magma flow upward.
Throat – upper part of conduit
It’s important to note that not all volcanic eruptions led to the destruction of the volcano’s size and
shape for in some cases when a volcano erupts, its size grows and its slope becomes steeper
because layers of lava and ashes are eventually formed. A perfect example of this is our very own
Mayon volcano.
 Volcanoes and the Pacific Ring of Fire

Do you know that approximately 90% of

volcanoes on earth are located in the
Pacific Ring of Fire and roughly 75% of
these are active? The Pacific Ring of fire
is a horseshoe shaped and is the location
were plate tectonics meet, separate or
slide next to each other. Because of
these movements earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions usually occur. No
wonder why the Philippines is known for
its active volcanoes such as Mt. Pinatubo
in Zambales and Mt. Mayon in Albay,
Bicol. 
 Soils Nearby Volcano

Do you know that soils nearby the

volcano are actually fertile and are good
for agricultural purposes? When volcanic
eruptions occurred, the lava flows out of
the volcano and will soon solidify and
undergo weathering. This process may
take many long years but its effect to the
soil chemistry and property is good.
Many minerals and nutrients beneath the
earth are also ejected during the
eruptions making the soil even more
suitable for farming. 
Thought to ponder: 

Painful experiences come to all people regardless of their

social status, achievements and body physique just like in
an erupting volcano where no one is exempted from
devastation.  But what each person has to know is that
people just have to look at the brighter side for soon, like a
barren soil, it can make them fertile and fruitful. 
 
ACTIVITY
Answer the following questions.

1. What are the external parts of a volcano?

2. Describe each external part.
3. What are the internal parts of a volcano?
4. Describe each internal part.
ANSWER
1. What are the external parts of a volcano?
Volcanoes have external structures namely: the base, flank, crater (some may have caldera) and vent.
2. Describe each external part.
Base – external bottom part of the volcano supporting the entire body
Flank – the sloping side
Vent – an opening where the magma can flow
Crater – lies in the mouth of volcano or circular depression
Caldera – a huge circular depression with a diameter of thousand meters and depth of hundred meters
Flank vent – smaller openings where magma may pass through which are created on the side of the volcano

3. What are the internal parts of a volcano?

Volcanoes have internal structures namely: magma chamber, conduit, and throat.
4. Describe each internal part.
Magma Chamber – an underground open zone where magma accumulates
Conduit – the path where magma flow upward
Throat – upper part of conduit
ASSIGNMENT
Draw the structure/ parts of volcano.
Classification of
Volcanoes

Lesson
Objectives:

– Given the necessary materials, the students should be able to:

– 1. describe the different types of volcanoes;
– 2. differentiate between active and inactive volcanoes; and
– 3. identify some of the active and inactive volcanoes in the
Philippines.
Engage

– What sets apart one type of volcano from another?

Volcanoes are classified by scientists according to their
activities and shapes.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(PHIVOLCS) defines active volcano as volcanoes with
evidence of eruption for the past 10,000 years; dormant if it
has the potential to be active again but with no record of
eruption; and inactive volcano if it has no record of eruption
and possibility to be active again. Usually, inactive volcanoes
form gullies and eroded.
Over 200 volcanoes in the Philippines are inactive and more
than 20 are active.
There are three general types of volcanoes according to their
shape namely: composite or stratovolcano, cinder cone or scoria
cones, and shield. A composite volcano is called a stratovolcano
because when you divide the volcano into equal halves exposing
the inner structure, you will notice that it consists of alternating
layers of solidified ashes and lava. This happens when ashes and
other pyroclastic materials cover the flank of an erupting volcano
followed by the flowing lava. Composite volcanoes are the most
destructive types of volcanoes.

On the other hand, the Shield volcano is broader and bigger

than composite volcanoes. It does not possess a steep flank.
This type of volcano isn’t destructive like the composite ones.
Lastly, a cinder cone volcano usually has a narrow base, steep
slope angle built from the pyroclastic materials from a single
vent. This type is relatively smaller than the composite
volcanoes. 
 Volcanoes and Viscosity

Do you know that the shape of a volcano is determined by the

materials it releases during the eruption?

Not all lavas are viscous. Some can easily flow and some
resistance to flow. Viscosity is the resistance of the fluid to flow.
Many factors account for the viscosity of the lava including its
chemical composition, temperature, dissolved gas, and silica
content (Silicon dioxide). As mentioned a while ago, ashes pile up
in the slope of the volcano during the eruption and viscous lava
covers it. If the lava is rich in silica, it solidifies even before it
reaches the base of the volcano and piles up near the vent. As it
is done repeatedly, the height and the slope of the volcano
become higher and steeper forming a cone shape.
On the other hand, if the lava has less silica content it becomes
fluid that it spreads out forming a resemblance of a warrior’s
shield.
Lastly, if the lava is too viscous, it cannot flow easily covering only
small areas and creating a steep slope. This is the reason why
cinder cone volcanoes are smaller than the composite ones.
Volcanic Eruption
Objectives:

– Given the necessary materials, the students should be able to:

– 1. explain what happens when volcanoes erupt;
– 2. determine the signs of an erupting volcano; and
– 3. identify the impacts of volcanic eruption to humans and
environment
Engage

– How does the earth release energy?

Earth’s core is so hot that it can melt solid rocks in the mantle
forming a magma. This material is fluid that it can travel and rise
to the earth’s crust. The magma pervasively fills cracked regions
and forms a magma chamber inside the volcano which becomes Magma contains dissolved gas molecules such as water vapor,
the temporary storage of it. carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. If the magma is
not viscous, the gas molecules can easily leave the volcano and
enter the atmosphere. However if the magma is too viscous, these
gases cannot escape but form bubbles inside and may add to the
If the volcano is active, the magma chamber is filled with so increasing pressure.
much magma as years pass by. This rising magma to the earth’s
crust may crack, melt and move the solid rocks of volcano
resulting to scarcely perceptible to strong earthquakes.
Water vapor and carbon dioxide are both odorless unlike sulfur
dioxide and hydrogen sulfide that smell like a rotten egg.
Furthermore, these gases once incorporated with water droplets in
Finally, when the volcano can no longer hold the pressure the atmosphere may form sulfuric acid that can harm living
exerted by the magma, the volcano will erupt releasing its lava organisms and deteriorate buildings.
and other materials such as volcanic ash, lapilli, volcanic bombs,
volcanic blocks and toxic gases.
Did you know that the second most destructive volcanic
eruption in the 20th century actually happened in the
Philippines? This is when Mt Pinatubo erupted last June 15,
1991, adding 250 megatons of gases into the atmosphere.
These particles reached the stratosphere (10-50 km above
the sea level) where no rain clouds form to wash out the
pollutants and stayed there for a long period of time.
Furthermore, these particles are able to reflect sunlight back
to outer space and cause a cooling effect on the Earth’s
atmosphere. Scientists believe that Mt. Pinatubo was able to
reduce the global temperature by 1 degree Celsius.

When volcanic ash and other pyroclastic materials mix with

water, a viscous lahar may form. This has the resemblance of
wet concrete and can actually wipe out everything on its path.
The picture shows how lahar buried many houses in
Pampanga and greatly damaged the agricultural sector.
Many Filipinos escaped the wrath of Mt. Pinatubo because of the close monitoring and early evacuations. Thanks
to the hardworking volcanologists of PHIVOLCS and personnel of Local Government Units.
 
But, what if you come to a place where an active volcano is situated and no one is knowledgeable there to tell
you or the community that the volcano is about to erupt anytime soon? What are the signs that you should be
mindful of to avoid disasters such as casualties?
 
According to PHIVOLCS, the following are the signs of an impending volcanic eruption:
1.the temperature of the water nearby the volcano increases;
2.steam emission darkens and increases in volume;
3.there’s a glowing magma in the crater;
4.foul odor like a rotten egg is observable;
5.animals show unusual behavior;
6.the volcano is bulging, and finally
7.the ground often quakes.
Types of Volcanic
Eruption
Objectives:

– Given the necessary materials, the students should be able to:

– 1. enumerate the different types of volcanic eruptions;
– 2. characterize the chemical and physical properties of magma;
and
– 3. relate the type of volcanic eruption to the chemical composition
of magma
First, when a great amount of silica or silicon dioxide is
dissolved in the magma, the silica forms tetrahedral links
in strongly bonded chains or networks that cannot move
easily. Thus, the magma becomes vicious. Viscosity is the
ability of a material to resist flow.
 
Furthermore, magma with little dissolved gases (primarily
water vapor) and high silica content becomes too vicious.
 
Lastly, the higher the temperature of the magma, the
lesser it becomes vicious. This means that the hotter the
magma, the faster it can travel.
 
When a volcano is about to erupt, the magma fills its
conduit and vent. If the magma contains a huge amount
of silica and gases, tremendous pressure is built up which
may result in an explosive eruption. On the other hand, if
the magma contains little amount of silica, it may only
produce a quiet explosion.
The second activity gave you the idea that the type of eruption is related to the dissolved materials in
the magma and its temperature. In this section, we will enumerate and describe thoroughly these types
of eruptions.

First is the effusive eruption. An effusive eruption, the lava just pours out and easily flows. Thus,
covering a large area. A shield volcano in Hawaii is a perfect example of an effusive eruption.

Second is the Strombolian which is an example of an explosive eruption. In this kind of eruption, the

volcano produces fire or lava fountains. An example of this eruption occurred in Mt. Etna in Sicily.

The third one is phreatic eruptions. The groundwater interacts with the magma producing skyward
steam.

Lastly, Vulcanian eruptions and Plinian eruptions. These types of eruptions produce eruptive columns.
However, Plinian is more destructive because of its ejected pyroclastic materials and its column may
reach a few kilometers high with approximately 300km/hr velocity. An example of the Plinian eruption
is Mt. Pinatubo.
Summary:
You learned that the earth is composed of distinct regions namely: earth’s crust, upper and lower
mantle, outer and inner core. The earth’s core is extremely hot that it can melt solid rocks in the
lower mantle with iron, magnesium, and silicates. These molten rocks nearby the core travel to the
upper mantle in an average of less than 15cm per year. And those solid rocks in the upper mantle
travel towards the core. It only means that the mantle undergoes convection. Some of the molten
rock or magma escapes the earth's interior through active volcanoes.