 GEOLOGIC PROCESSES

Usually hazards occur in areas that are prone to geologic processes and hydrometeorological phenomena, with
this in mind, we have to these processes and phenomena before we can come up with any mitigation plan.

Earthquake – the minimal to rapid shaking of the ground due to the movement of rocks along fractures, known
as faults on Earth’s surface. The Philippines is prone to earthquakes because of the numerous numbers of faults
within the country. Therefore, it is already given that our country would experience a lot of geologic hazards.

Earthquake hazards:
a. Surface rupture and physical damage – most obvious hazard of an earthquake. Earthquakes with higher
energy create stronger ground motion, which can cause the ground to break and buildings to collapse. In
areas where there are more people and more buildings, they will have more damage.
b. Liquefaction – occurs in areas where the soil become saturated with water. During an earthquake, the
movement of the ground may loosen the soil and allow more water to seep in between the particles. This
decreases the ability of the soil to support structures that are resting upon it. When it can no longer support
a building, instead of being toppled over, the building starts to sink. This usually occurs in reclaimed lands,
which were a part of a body of water.
c. Fires – can break out during or after an earthquake when damages happen along electric power lines,
substations, and power plants. It can also occur when ground rupture creates gas leaks.
d. Tsunami – or a harbor wave is an earthquake hazard that is generated when earthquakes occur on the
seafloor.
e. Landslide – another earthquake hazard that occurs when there is too much shaking of the ground, which
loosens the soil, facilitating its downward movement.

 VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
- Earthquakes are sometimes used in predicting volcanic eruptions. It usually alerts
authorities to observe any nearby volcano. Active volcanoes are the ones that are
usually closely monitored by volcanologists. These are commonly located along plate
boundaries specifically along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
o Types of Eruptions: (depending on the viscosity and amount of dissolved gases in magma)
1. Explosive eruptions – have magma that is highly viscous and contains large amounts of
dissolved gases.
2. Hawaiian type – nonexplosive eruptions have magma that has low viscosity, the easier it is
for the magma to flow.

The viscosity of magma is affected by silica content and temperature. Low-temperature magma with high
silica content are highly viscous; high temperature magma with low silica content has a low viscosity.
Therefore, in explosive eruptions, the magma could not easily get out of the vent. This impedes the
remaining
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a. Pyroclastic flows - often render people unable to run since they become overwhelmed with what they are
seeing.
b. Too much pyroclastic material (e.g., tephra) - may bury people and severely damage the agricultural
land and livestock. Damaged agricultural land could lead to famine.
c. Mudflow or lahar - this usually happens after an eruption, pyroclastic materials that have settle along the
slope of the volcano get mixed with rainwater. This mudflow would start moving at high speed, destroying
everything along its path.
d. Poisonous gases - also released by volcanoes. These gases can be lethal to people, animals and plants.
 e. Tsunami - violent volcanic eruptions can also happen underwater; thus, violent tremors or earthquakes
can cause these harbor waves.

 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA

Tropical cyclones, monsoons, and thunderstorms are hydrometeorological phenomena that are often
experienced in the Philippines. These phenomena can cause severe damages to an affected area especially if the
people are not prepared.

o Monsoons – are regional wind systems that are seasonally reversing. These are very similar to
how the local winds (sea breeze and land breeze) are generated. Thus, the reversing is
attributed to the different amounts of energy received by the landmass during summer or
winter. This phenomenon is most evident in Asia since it has the largest landmass among the
other continents.

o Tropical cyclones – are severe weather patterns. These are wind systems that are circulating
around a low-pressure area. Tropical cyclones are cyclones that are formed over warm oceans.
The cyclones that form over the Pacific or Indian Ocean are called typhoons, while cyclones that
form over the Atlantic Ocean are called hurricanes.

o Thunderstorms and tornadoes form over lands. Thunderstorms are characterized by strong
winds, heavy rain, lightning and thunder. They are formed when a warm air mass is forced to
move upward by a cold air mass, producing cumulonimbus clouds. As the clouds grow bigger,
electrical charges start to form and static electricity is discharged in the form of lightning. When
the lightning passes, it rapidly heats the air around it, causing the air to expand explosively,
which is heard as thunder.

Hydrometeorological hazards:

a. Storm surge – is the most destructive hydrometeorological hazard. It is the rise of the normal sea
level caused by the winds that are directed towards the shore. It can reach the height of at least 8
meters and may cause the most destruction in coastal areas.
b. Wind damage – is the most obvious hazard of cyclones and thunderstorms since these are
characterized by strong winds. It can cause damage to infrastructures that are weak and poorly
built, although well-built structures may still be damaged by strong winds that create huge storm
surges. Strong winds may also send debris from damaged infrastructure flying at high speeds, which
could be dangerous.
c. Flood – the hazard brought about by heavy rains in places that are far from coastal areas. It may or
may not be accompanied by strong winds, but continuous rainfall combined with the failure of the
flood control system may be cause of most of the casualties sustained by an area.

 MARINE AND COASTAL PROCESSES

Coastal processes, such as waves, tides, sea level changes, crustal movement, and storm surges will result
to coastal erosion, submersion, and saltwater intrusion.
Coastal erosion - is the wearing down of the coastlines by the movement of wind and water. It is not a constant
process; instead the rate of erosion depends on other events such as cyclones. When cycles occur along coastal
areas, the winds and waves carry the sediment away from the shoreline.

Shorelines play an important role to society like in

transportation, fishing and tourism. Therefore, preventing
coastal erosion is of utmost priority.

3 Main Classifications of Stabilizing the shoreline:

1. Hard stabilization - is done by building structures that will slow down the erosion on areas that are
prone to erosion. Examples of hard stabilization structures are jetties, sea walls and breakwaters.
Though they may be slow down the erosion in one area, it may hasten the erosion in other areas.

2. Soft stabilization - includes the process of beach nourishment, wherein sand from an offshore
location is brought to an area with a receding shoreline. It does not make use of structures like the
ones used in hard stabilization.

3. Retreat - is the option taken by residents near areas where coastal erosion is already severe. At
this point, the authorities no longer attempt to save the shoreline but rather limit the amount of
human interference in the area.
Submersion – happens because of the changes in the sea level, specifically, when it rises dangerously
above the normal level. This is all due to the increase in the global temperature which, in turn, melts the
glacial deposits and increases the overall sea level. Another factor that may cause submersion is the
vertical movement of the plates.

- can also likely to occur in reclaimed lands. These are the areas that were originally part
of oceans, riverbeds, or lakebeds. This land is a low-lying flatland, so even a small rise in
sea level can cause great damage on the land. In areas like this, hand shoreline
establishments are usually constructed. Sea walls are built along the coastline to protect
the land from being easily flooded.

Saltwater Intrusion – is the movement of saltwater into the freshwater aquifer. The natural flow is that
of freshwater, which is less dense, moves towards the denser saltwater. But if the freshwater is being
withdrawn faster than it is being replenished, then there will be a change in pressure and saltwater
intrusion will occur.

Few ways to prevent saltwater intrusion:

a. Stop using the well where freshwater has been depleted and let the groundwater
replenish naturally through the water cycle.
b. To build two wells: a pumping well built farther inland and an injection well built
closer to the coast. Using the injection well, freshwater is pumped into the aquifer
to prevent saltwater from intruding.
  MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION

Since the Philippines is located in a disaster risk area, and hazards will always be present, the government’s
response to mitigate and adapt to these hazards is through the creation of hazard maps.

Hazard maps – developed to indicate the places where most of the natural disasters usually occur and will most
likely to occur. Identifying these places can aid in informed land use and persons-in charge can create an
emergency response plan in case of sudden occurrences.

In the Philippines, the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) created a Geohazard Mapping
and Assessment Program implemented by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, which identifies areas vulnerable
to geologic hazards or geohazard. They are also the ones responsible for developing the hazard maps.

MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION CONCEPT MAP

Development of Hazard Maps

Conceptualizing an Action Plan

(Action plans should be conceptualized to identify the priorities for action and plan for the possible impacts affecting the
country.)

Establishment of Local Programs

(Local programs should be established to help people who are most affected by natural disasters to
recover from their losses. Such programs can include the training of people to innovate and think out of
the box to come up with ideas or solutions that will be more effective for their livelihood.)

Information and Education Campaign

( Can increase mass awareness regarding natural disasters; thus, increasing their chance for survival; it is
also a means of promoting access to information and resources that will help individuals be better
prepared for natural disasters. )
 TYPHOON

Before Typhoon

 Keep yourself updated. With the various media platforms, it is next to impossible to not be updated of the
supposed typhoon’s movement.

 Inspect and clean up your house especially your drainage system. Check to see if there’s a need to fix your house
such as holes on your roofs, damaged doors, windows or ceilings. Have them fixed as soon as possible. Do check
as well your drainage system. If there’s clogging, have them fixed or remove any material that may possibly
cause the clogging.

 Store ample amount of ready-to-eat foods and water. Make sure that the foods and water that you will store is
adequate enough for you and your family and will last for few days. Ready-to-eat foods such as canned/packed
foods are especially helpful when cooking is no longer feasible.

 If you have second or third floors or any part in your house that is elevated, have your things especially those
that generate electricity placed in there. This will keep water from coming in contact with these stuffs.

 If you are advised to evacuate, do so. These people who will inform you of the need for evacuation are more
knowledgeable than anyone else. So don’t be hard-headed, at least not during this time of distress.

 Always have your emergency kits with you. Your emergency kit may include first-aid supplies, candles,
flashlights, life vests and battery-operated radio.

During Typhoon

 If no advice to evacuate was announced, then better stay inside your house. Keep yourself calm and
postpone any scheduled travels.

 Keep on monitoring the typhoon’s movement through your television, radio or the internet.

 If you see signs of water rising, better turn off the main sources of electricity. Do keep your electric-powered
items stored in higher areas and refrain from using them during flood.

 Do not wade along flooded areas to keep yourself from contacting water-borne diseases. If it is inevitable,
wear protective gears such as raincoats and boots to protect yourself.

 If you are told to evacuate, calmly comply.

After the Typhoon

 Monitor and update yourself with the progress of the typhoon through radio, television or the internet (should
this be accessible).
 If your house was one of the heavily damaged, make sure that you heed to the advice of the authorities
regarding its safety and stability. If they are uncertain of your house’s condition, do not go yet. If the house
didn’t have that much damage, have your house inspected and do the needed repairs immediately. Just be
safe in inspecting your house and avoid scattered debris.

 Watch out for live wires or any electrical outlet that may be submerged in water. If you don’t have the
sufficient knowledge on electrical wiring, have a knowledgeable person inspect these wires as well as your
appliances before you actually use them again.

 Wear protective gears such as boots. Water-borne diseases such as Leptospirosis do not only spread out
during typhoon but also after the typhoon. The bacteria that cause this disease may still be present in moist
soils or scattered debris and if these contacts with your open wound, the chances of developing such
disease is very much likely.

 Boil water before drinking as they may be contaminated.

 Clean up. Dispose things that may be a ground for mosquitoes to breed. Such stuffs may include tires, cans
or pots.