Earth and Space Unit Test

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The Pacific Ring of Fire

Pacific Ring Of Fire

The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area in the  Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. In a 40,000 km horseshoe shape, it is associated with a continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts or plate movements. It has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes.  The Ring of Fire is sometimes called the circum-Pacific belt. About 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. The next most seismically active region is the Alpide belt, which extends from Java to the northern Atlantic Ocean via the Himalayas and southern Europe. All but 3 of the world's 25 largest volcanic eruptions of the last 11,700 years occurred at volcanoes in the Ring of Fire. The countries that belongs to the Ring of Fire are Chile, Mexico, United States, Antarctica, Russia, Japan, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, Indonesia, Canada, Peru, Taiwan, and Guatemala. The Ring of Fire is the result of plate tectonics. Tectonic plates are huge slabs of the Earth’s crust, which fit together like pieces of a puzzle. The plates are not fixed but are constantly moving atop a layer of solid and molten rock called the mantle. Sometimes these plates collide, move apart, or slide next to each other. Most tectonic activity in the Ring of Fire occurs in these geologically active zones.

A convergent plate boundary is formed by tectonic plates crashing into each other. Convergent boundaries are often subduction zones, where the heavier plate slips under the lighter plate, creating a deep trench. This subduction changes the dense mantle material into buoyant magma, which rises through the crust to the Earth’s surface. Over millions of years, the rising magma creates a series of active volcanoes known as a volcanic arc. A divergent boundary is formed by tectonic plates pulling apart from each other. Divergent boundaries are the site of seafloor spreading and rift valleys. Seafloor spreading is the process of magma welling up in the rift as the old crust pulls itself in opposite directions. Cold seawater cools the magma, creating new crust. The upward movement and eventual cooling of this magma has created high ridges on the ocean floor over millions of year.

            Volcanoes are formed when magma from within the Earth's upper mantle works its way to the surface. At the surface, it erupts to form lava flows and ash deposits. Over time as the volcano continues to erupt, it will get bigger and bigger. Scientists have categorized volcanoes into three main categories: active, dormant, and extinct. An active volcano which has recently erupted and there is a possibility that it may erupt soon. A dormant volcano which has not erupted in a long time but there is a possibility it can erupt in the future. An extinct volcano which has erupted thousands of years ago and there’s no possibility of eruption.

Pacific Ring of Fire

TOP 10 ACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE PHILIPPINES

1.) Mount Mayon – Albay

Mount Mayon, one of the most impressive Philippine landmarks, with an elevation of 2,462 meters is the most active volcano in the Philippines. Based on recorded history of the country, this almost perfect cone volcano in Albay erupted at least 50 times from 1616 up to present. One of the most remarkable and most devastating eruptions of Mount Mayon was its eruption in 1766 that erased the town of Cagsawa in the Philippine map. Only the bell tower of Cagsawa Church remained above the new surface. Its last eruption was in January 2010.

2.) Taal Volcano – Batangas

Taal Volcano, situated within Taal Lake, has always been known to be one of the most active volcanoes in the country and in fact tagged as the world’s most active smallest volcano. This volcano located in Batangas province had erupted 33 times from 1572 to present. Its last eruption occurred in July 2009 and is currently closely monitored for its abnormal activities which may result to another eruption of this small but very active volcano. It has an elevation of 400 meters.

3.) Mount Kanlaon – Negros Oriental

With an elevation of 2.435 meters, one of the most active Philippine volcanoes is Mount Kanlaon or Kanlaon Volcano. It had erupted at least 25 times already from 1886 up to present. It last major eruption happened in 1996 and had been permanently monitored since then,

4.) Mount Bulusan – Sorsogon

This volcano with an elevation of 1,565 meters had erupted 15 times already from 1886 up to 2007. It has been closely monitored since its last eruption in 2007. This active volcano is located in the so-called “little Switzerland of the Philippines” – the province of Sorsogon.

5.) Mount Makaturing – Lanao del Sur

Not as popular as the Taal and Mayon volcanoes but Mount Makaturing, one of the ‘top ten highest mountains in the Philippines’, is also one of the most active volcanoes in the country. It has an elevation of 1,940 meters and had erupted 10 times since 1882.

6.  a) Musuan Volcano – Bukidnon

Another not-so-famous volcano is Musuan Volcano located in the province of Bukidnon. With an elevation of 646 meters only, it is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines and had erupted 8 times in a span of 21 years from 1866 to 1887. Its last threatening activity of strong seismic swarm occurred in 1976 but has not erupted since then.

b) Mount Ragang – Lanao del Sur

Mount Ragang in Lanao del Sur, which is another tall mountain in the Philippines, is another active volcano that had erupted 8 times and tied with Musuan Volcano as the countries 6th most active volcano. Its last recorded eruption happened in 1916 or 94 years ago.

7. a) Didicas Volcano – Cagayan

One of the smallest and most active volcanoes in the Philippines is Dicicas Volcano located in Cagayan province. With an elevation of 244 meters only it had already erupted 7 times from 1773 up to 1990.

b) Hibok-Hibok – Camiguin

Mount Hibok-Hibok, one of the most popular volcanoes in the Philippines, had already erupted 7 times since the recorded history of the Philippines. With an elevation of 1,552 meters, this volcano’s first recorded eruption was in 1827 and the last was in 1952. It is tied with Didicas as the 7th most active volcanoes in the Philippines.

8.) Smith Volcano – Cagayan

Mount Smith in Cagayan province with an elevation of 688 meters above sea level had erupted 6 times already and the last known eruption of this active Philippine volcano was recorded in 1924. This beautiful volcano is also known as Mount Babuyan.

9. a) Babuyan Claro – Cagayan

Babuyan claro, an active volcano in Cagayan province, has an elevation of 1,080 meters above sea level. It erupted in 1831, 1860, 1913 and its last eruption was in 1917.

b) Mount Banahaw – Quezon

Tied at 8th place as the most active volcanoes in the Philippines is Mount Banahaw in Quezon province. It has an elevation of 2,158 meters and had erupted 4 times since 1730 up to 1909. The mountain is considered 'sacred' by the residents of the area.

10. a) Dequey – Batanes

Dequey Volcano, an underwater volcano, is located in the smallest province of the Philippines – Batanes. With an elevation of -24 meters above sea level, it has been known to have erupted 3 times - 1773, 1850 and 1854. It is considered as Philippine most active undersea volcano.

b.) Mount Parker – Cotabato

And for the last spot as the Philippines most active volcanoes is Mount Parker, an active volcano located in Cotabato. With an elevation of 1,824, its earliest known recorded eruption occurred in 1800 BCE and its last major eruption was in 1641.

c.) Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo, which is located in the province of Zambales in Central Luzon, was reawakened in 1991 producing the 2nd largest eruption in the 20th century. Two milder eruptions followed in 1992 and 1993. Its last eruption prior to 1991 is unknown. It has an elevation of 1,486 meters.