Gio Sauquillo

12 – STEM
December 3, 2018

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION: NATURAL HAZARDS AND ITS EFFECTS

Throughout the Philippines, there are a lot of risks and hazards that could turn
into disasters. Every year, the Philippines experiences a lot of phenomena from the
environment. Some of them bring in human, economic and environmental impacts that
could disrupt a functioning community. Natural disasters come from natural hazards that
could turn into disasters with devastating effects.
Hazards are divided into 4 groups namely: earthquake hazards, volcano hazards,
rainfall-induced geologic hazards, hydro-meteorological hazards. Each hazard has a
different cause but its impacts are nearly the same to each other.
The first hazard group is the earthquake hazard. The Philippines is prone to
earthquake hazards because it is situated near to the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area where
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur and it is also because the western boundary of
the Philippine plate that runs along the midsection of the Philippines from north to south.
The country also records and average of 200-250 earthquakes with different magnitudes
per year.
The potential earthquake hazards of the Philippines include: ground shaking,
ground rupture, liquefaction, earthquake-induced ground subsidence tsunami and
landslide. Ground shaking refers to passage of seismic waves though the different layers
of Earth caused by vibration of movement. Ground rupture is a ground movement
happens on a fault line and breaks through to the surface. Liquefaction refers to mixing of
loose materials in soil and groundwater. Earthquake-induced ground subsidence is the
lowering of land due to various causes. Tsunami is a series of waves that are generated by
a sudden displacement on the ocean floor caused by landslide or earthquakes.
Some of the strongest earthquakes are: magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Mindanao on
August 17, 1976 which killed 8,000 people, 10,000 injured and 90,000 homeless;
magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Northern and Central Luzon on July 16, 1990 which killed
2,412 people including the persons who were trapped and buried alive inside the
collapsed buildings and 10-billion pesos worth of damage to private and public
properties.
The second hazard group is the volcano hazard. Due to its position, the
Philippines is also prone to volcanic eruptions. According to Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), as of 2012, there are 23 active volcanoes in
the Philippines. At any time, one of these volcanoes may erupt and destroy anything on
its path.
The potential volcanic hazards are: lahar, ash fall, pyroclastic flow, ballistic
projectile, volcanic gas and lava flow. Lahar is a mixture of water, pyroclastic materials
and rock fragments flowing down a volcano. Ash fall is composed of bits and pieces of
pulverized rock minerals and volcanic glass. Pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving mass of
rock fragments and gasses. Ballistic projectile is a rock fragment that is ejected from a
volcano during its explosive eruption. Volcanic gas consists of sulfur dioxide and
hydrogen sulphide that is harmful to organisms. Lava flow is a molten rock that pours
down from the slopes of the volcano.
Some notable volcanic eruptions are: Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, killing 800 people;
Mt. Mayon in 2006 and 1616 which killed 79 perople in 2006 and 1, 200 people in 1616.
The third hazard group is the rainfall-induced geologic hazards. Rainfall-induced
geologic hazards pose a threat to lives and properties especially during heavy or
prolonged rain. Its types are: landslide which is a ground movement on a sloping terrain
and sinkholes that are depressions made from the collapse of surface layer of the soil.
Some examples for this hazard group is the 1999 Cherry Hills landslide which
occurred on August 3, 1999 and killed 60 people. Another example is the 2006
Guinsaugon landslide that occurred on February 11, 2006 and killed over 1,200 people.
The last hazard group is the hydrometeorological hazards. Hydrometeorological
hazards pose a threat to lives and properties because of the trade winds coming from the
opposite directions and it develop cyclones. Its types are: typhoons, thunderstorm, flood,
flash flood, storm surge and tornado. Typhoons are intense circulating winds with heavy
rain over tropical waters and land. Thunderstorm is a heavy rain with the presence of
thunder and lightning. Flood is the excessive presence of water over dry land. Flash flood
is a rapid flow of water on saturated soil or dry soil or any foundation that has poor
absorption capability. Storm surge is an abnormal rise of coastal water due to a massive
force from the air above the sea. Tornado refers to a rapidly rotating column of air that is
in contact with the air and land.
Some of the deadliest typhoons are: Haiphong in 1881 which killed over 20,000
in the Philippines and 300,000 in Vietnam; Yolanda in 2013 which killed 6,300 people;
and Uring in 1991 which killed 8,165 people.
Natural disasters have caused as many damages throughout the years. A lot of
people were claimed, properties destroyed and lives changed. Natural disasters will
continue to destroy lives and properties if no appropriate action will be taken.
Gio Sauquillo
12 – STEM
December 3, 2018

IS THE EARTH REALLY FLAT?

Different theories about the shape of the Earth have been studied since the 6th
century BC. For many years, philosophers debated about the real shape of the Earth.
Several pre-Socratic philosophers believed that the Earth was flat due to the things that
they have observed about the Earth. However, the spherical Earth theory was matter of
speculation among philosophers.

Some of the points that are being questioned by the flat Earth theory supporters
are: gravity, movement of celestial objects and all images of the Earth that were released
to the public. According to the flat Earth theory supporters, gravity doesn’t exist. It is
only an illusion. They say that the Earth is not accelerating downward; instead, the Earth
is accelerating upward at a constant speed of 32 feet per second squared or 9.8 meters per
second squared and it is driven up by a mysterious force called the dark energy.

The movement of every celestial object is somewhat different to each other. The
sun and the moon are spheres that move in circles 3000 miles above the plane of the
Earth and the stars move in a plane 3100 miles above the Earth. The flat Earth theory
supporters also believe in the presence of an invisible “antimoon” that obscures the moon
during lunar eclipses.

The last point of the flat Earth theory supporters is that the images of the Earth
that was shown by the National Aeronautics Space Administration or NASA are not true.
They claim that the all the photos of the Earth that is round was edited to trick people.

The points of argument that were given by the flat Earth theory supporters have a
lot of flaws. The gravity is a force that came from all of the Earth’s mass. All of the
Earth's mass makes a combined gravitational pull on an object. According to Albert
Einstein, gravity not only pulls mass but also light. This change is not seen by the eyes,
but the scientists can measure it.
The “antimoon” of the flat Earth theory supporters proves that the Earth is
actually round. The position of the Sun, Earth and Moon during a lunar eclipse shows
that the Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon respectively. As the Earth rotates
around the Sun, a sphere shadow appears on the moon.
 The last argument of flat Earth theory supporters is acceptable. However, there
are a lot of pictures coming from people not affiliated with NASA. These people fly
weather balloons with a live recording. Other people who were able to ride an airplane
can somehow see the curvature of the Earth at 35000 feet above the ground. The
curvature of the Earth can be seen clearly at 41000 feet above the ground.

In conclusion, the flat Earth theory failed to disprove the spherical Earth theory.
Flat Earth theory supporters cannot prove that the Earth is flat and their points of
argument are really flawed. The spherical Earth theory have gained the support of many
philosophers and modern scientists.