The Day Before Mayon Volcano Eruption Essay Example
The Day Before Mayon Volcano Eruption Essay Example

The Day Before Mayon Volcano Eruption Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (423 words)
  • Published: October 26, 2016
  • Type: Essay
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On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens had an eruption while Mount Pinatubo, located to the north of it in the Luzon arc on the west coast of the island, has also had significant eruptions before. In July 1990, there was a magnitude 7 earthquake northeast of Pinatubo which showed that it was becoming active again. By mid-March 1991, vulcanologists were studying the mountain as earthquakes were felt by nearby villagers. Around 30,000 individuals lived near the volcano before the disaster. On April 2nd, small explosions occurred and caused ash to cover local villages and led to evacuations for approximately 5,000 people.

Mount Pinatubo, which is a composite volcano located on the west coast of Luzon and part of the Luzon volcanic arc, is linked to eastward-dipping subduction along the Manila trench. With an elevation of 1,745 meters, it is consider

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ed one of the highest peaks in west-central Luzon. It's possible that a lava dome was created at its summit during the most recent significant eruption around 500 years ago. The lower slopes of the volcano have undergone extensive erosion and are heavily populated.

The exhibit includes three photos of the eruption, aftermath scene, and devastation by Heraldo Cabrido, the Philippine Daily Inquirer Photography Consultant. These photos won the grand prize and best in News Photography in the local Catholic Mass Media Awards. Additionally, the photo exhibit commemorates the 21 years since Mount Pinatubo's eruption and features works by various other photojournalists such as Nick Sagmit, Derek Soriano, Ted Aljibe, Chito Vecina, Edwin Tuyay, Edwin Bacasmas, Angie de Silva, Ernie Sarmiento, Rem Zamora, Val Handumon, and Joe Galvez.

The Earth'

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mantle, a molten rock layer surrounding the metallic core, is always in motion as it rises, cools, and sinks. This movement exerts immense pressure on the thin crust of the Earth. As a result, our planet's surface is divided into approximately 20 plates that slowly move on top of the mantle. Occasionally, like an aggressively shaken bottle of carbonated soda, magma under pressure (a mixture of hot melted rock and gas) erupts from above in the form of lava.

The nature of volcano eruptions can vary. Some eruptions, like the ones that occurred at Mount St. Helens in Washington State in 1980 and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, are sudden and explosive. Other eruptions, depending on the type of magma involved, can be slow and peaceful. An example of this is the eruption of Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano in 1984 when people were able to evacuate as its lava gradually flowed down the slope with a thickness similar to honey.

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