Lesson 13: Hazards: Geologic Processes: How Do Geological Processes Occur?

Lesson 13: HAZARDS: GEOLOGIC PROCESSES
Geology is the study of the Earth and its history. It involves studying the
materials that make up the earth, the features and structures found on Earth, as
well as the processes that act upon them. It also deals with the study of the
history of all life living on the earth now.
How do geological processes occur?
Geological processes are naturally occurring events that directly or indirectly

impact the geology of the Earth. Examples of geological processes include
events such as plate tectonics, weathering, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
mountain formation, deposition, erosion, droughts, flooding, and landslides.
Geological processes affect every human on the Earth all of the time but are
most noticeable when they cause loss of life or property. These threatening
processes are called natural disasters.
How about Geologic Hazards?
A geologic hazard is an extreme natural event in the crust of the earth that poses
a threat to life and property, for example, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
tsunamis (tidal waves), and landslides. It is a large-scale, complex natural
events that happen on land. These hazards can cause immense damage, loss of
property, and sometimes life. Geologic hazards can play a significant role when
infrastructure is constructed in their presence. The unpredictable nature of
natural geologic hazards makes identifying, evaluating, and mitigating against
them a unique challenge.
SIMPLIFIED CLASSIFICATION OF MAJOR GEOLOGIC HAZARDS
Geologic Event Hazards They Cause

A. Ground shaking
Earthquake B. Surface faulting
C. Landslides and liquefaction
1. Rock avalanches
2. Rapid soil flows
3. Rock falls
D. Tsunamis
A. Tephra falls and ballistic projectiles
Volcanic Eruption
B. Pyroclastic phenomena
C. Lahars (mud flows) and floods
D. Lava flows and domes
E. Poisonous gases
Earthquake is one of the most violent natural phenomena. According to the

number of victims and destructive force, it exceeds all other natural disasters.
Earthquakes also happen under the ocean and can cause tsunamis.
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can trigger landslides, especially in areas with
water saturated soils, a common characteristic of Cascadia. Landslides may result in
falling rocks and debris that collide with people, buildings, and vehicles.
There were earthquakes that happened in the Philippines which were noticeably
strong such as magnitude 6.9 in October 2019 which hit southern Philippines.
Another one was 6.1 magnitude that struck the Island of Luzon in April of 2019.
Recently, multiple earthquakes were felt when Taal Volcano erupted early in 2020.
Have you experienced an earthquake? What did you feel?
Probably, you will feel the shaking of your body, and even the entire surroundings
which causes the ground shaking.
Listed below are the hazards caused by an earthquake:
A. Ground shaking is one of the hazards resulting from earthquakes, volcanic

eruptions, and landslides. Ground shaking is both a hazard created by
earthquakes and the trigger for other hazards such as liquefaction and
landslides. Ground shaking describes the vibration of the ground during an
earthquake.
B. Surface faulting is displacement that reaches the earth's surface during
slip along a fault. It commonly occurs with shallow earthquakes; those with
an epicenter less than 20 km. Surface faulting also may accompany aseismic
creep or natural or man-induced subsidence.
C. A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth
down a slope. Landslides are a type of "mass wasting," which denotes any
down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.
The term "landslide" encompasses five modes of slope movement: falls,
topples, slides, spreads, and flows.
D. Liquefaction describes the way in which soil liquefies during ground
shaking. Liquefaction can undermine the foundations and supports of
buildings, bridges, pipelines, and roads, causing them to sink into the ground,
collapse, or dissolve.
E. Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions
under the sea. It can injure or kill many people and cause significant damage
to buildings and other structures. The speed of tsunami waves depends on
ocean depth rather than the distance from the source of the wave. Tsunami
waves may travel as fast as jet planes over deep waters, only slowing down
when reaching shallow waters.
What are volcanoes?
A volcano on Earth is a vent or fissure in the planet's crust through which lava, ash,
rock, and gases erupt. Volcanoes can be exciting and fascinating but are also very
dangerous. Any kind of volcano can create harmful or deadly phenomena, whether
during an eruption or a period of dormancy. Volcanoes are natural systems and
always have some element of unpredictability.
What about volcanic eruption?
A volcanic eruption occurs when magma is released from a volcano. Volcanic

eruptions are major natural hazards on Earth. Volcanic eruptions can have a
devastating effect on people and the environment.
These are the hazards caused by volcanic eruption:
A. Tephra consists of pyroclastic fragments of any size and origin. It is a

synonym for "pyroclastic material." Tephra ranges in size from ash (<2 mm)
to lapilli (2-64 mm) to blocks and bombs (>64 mm).
B. A pyroclastic flow is a dense, fast-moving flow of solidified lava pieces,
volcanic ash, and hot gases. Pyroclastic flows form in various ways. A
common cause is when the column of lava, ash, and gases expelled from a
volcano during an eruption loses its upward momentum and falls back to the
ground. Another cause is when volcanic material expelled during an eruption
immediately begins moving down the sides of the volcano. Pyroclastic flows
can also form when a lava dome or lava flow becomes too steep and collapses.
C. Lahar is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water
and rock fragments that flows down the slopes of a volcano and typically
enters a river valley. Lahars are extremely dangerous especially to those living
in valley areas near a volcano. Lahars can bury and destroy manmade
structures including roads and bridges.
D. A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry.
Floods can look very different because flooding covers anything from a few
inches of water to several feet.
E. Lava domes are formed by viscous magma being erupted effusively onto the
surface and then piling up around the vent. Like lava flows, they typically do
not have enough gas or pressure to erupt explosively, although they may
sometimes be preceded or followed by explosive activity. The shape and size
of lava domes varies greatly, but they are typically steep-sided and thick.
F. Poisonous gases, the gases that are released during a volcanic eruption,
come from deep within the Earth. The largest portion of gases released into
the atmosphere is water vapor.
The Philippines has suffered from an inexhaustible number of deadly typhoons,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters. This is due to its
location along the Ring of Fire, or typhoon belt – a large Pacific Ocean region where
many of Earth’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
Taal Volcano, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, is the country's second most
active volcano. It boomed to life on January 12,2020, Sunday afternoon, spilling
volcanic ash. Taal Volcano sent a massive plume of ash and steam spewing miles
into the sky and pushed red-hot lava out of its crater, prompting the evacuation of
thousands of people and the closure of Manila's airport. Hundreds of earthquakes
were noted while the volcano was erupting. Flashes of lightning lit up the plume,
lending the scene an otherworldly appearance.

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Lesson 13: HAZARDS: GEOLOGIC PROCESSES

How do geological processes occur?

Geological processes are naturally occurring events that directly or indirectly

How about Geologic Hazards?

SIMPLIFIED CLASSIFICATION OF MAJOR GEOLOGIC HAZARDS

Geologic Event Hazards They Cause

Earthquake is one of the most violent natural phenomena. According to the

Have you experienced an earthquake? What did you feel?

Listed below are the hazards caused by an earthquake:

A. Ground shaking is one of the hazards resulting from earthquakes, volcanic

What about volcanic eruption?

A volcanic eruption occurs when magma is released from a volcano. Volcanic

These are the hazards caused by volcanic eruption:

A. Tephra consists of pyroclastic fragments of any size and origin. It is a

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