Volcanology

VOLCANOLOGY

Maricar Pilapil
Katherine Cuenco
Clarisse Ducay
Rodito Encila
Cherry Ann Gaton
Mark Joseph Lozada
Carlo Barreda

Volcanology

A volcanologist sampling lava using a rock hammer and a bucket of water
Volcanology, also spelled vulcanology, discipline of the geologic sciences that is concerned with all aspects of volcanic phenomena.
Volcanology deals with the formation, distribution, and classification of volcanoes as well as with their structure and the kinds of materials ejected during an eruption (such as pyroclastic flows, lava, dust, ash, and volcanic gases). It also involves research on the relationships between volcanic eruptions and other large-scale geologic processes such as plate tectonics, mountain building, and earthquakes. One of the chief objectives of this research is determining the nature and causes of volcanic eruptions for the purpose of forecasting their occurrence. Another practical concern of volcanology is securing data that may aid in locating commercially valuable deposits of ores, particularly those of certain sulfide minerals.
Interest in volcanic phenomena extends back to ancient times. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in ad79 was recorded in considerable detail by Pliny the Younger. Studies of volcanoes, however, were not conducted systematically until the 19th century. Since that time volcanology has become an important branch of physical geology. Specialists in the field, using the principles and methods of geophysics and geochemistry and the tools of seismology and geodesy, have obtained much knowledge of processes that occur within the Earth’s interior.

Volcanologist
A volcanologist or vulcanologist is a geologist who studies the processes involved in the formation and eruptive activity of volcanoes and their current and historic eruptions. Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes, especially active ones, to observe volcanic eruptions, collect eruptive products including tephra (such...