The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region characterized by a high concentration of active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. The geological and tectonic features of the region, including the interaction of the Philippine Sea Plate with the Eurasian Plate, contribute to the high seismic and volcanic activity in the country. In this essay, I will explain why the Philippines experiences more earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the implications of this for the country's population.
The Philippines is situated on the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate (Servando, 2021). The Philippine Sea Plate is an oceanic plate that is slowly moving towards the west-northwest direction, while the Eurasian Plate is a continental plate that is relatively stationary. The convergence of these two plates creates a subduction zone, where the denser Philippine Sea Plate is forced under the lighter Eurasian Plate (Gervasio, 2018). The subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate generates a lot of energy that can lead to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The subduction zone off the coast of the Philippines is one of the most active in the world. The Philippine Trench, a deep oceanic trench, runs parallel to the east coast of the country, marking the boundary between the two plates. The subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate has resulted in the formation of several active volcanoes, such as Mount Pinatubo, Mayon Volcano, and Taal Volcano, among others. These volcanoes are highly active and have erupted several times throughout history (Global Volcanism Program, 2021). The volcanic eruptions in the Philippines are often explosive and can cause significant damage to property and loss of life.
References
Gervasio, J. (2018). Plate tectonics and the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/06/17/1825420/plate-tectonics-and-philippines
Global Volcanism Program. (2021). Volcanoes of the Philippines. Retrieved from https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=273030
Servando, N. T. (2021). Why does the Philippines experience so many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/794321/why-does-the-philippines-experience-so-many-earthquakes-and-volcanic-eruptions/story/