Mount Pinatubo The June 1991 Eruptions Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo The June 1991 Eruptions

Mount Pinatubo • Andesitic Island arc volcano, located on southern Luzon Island, Philippines, 15. 13 N, 120. 35 E

The Eruption • Following numerous earthquakes, small tremors, Mount Pinatubo violently erupted at 8: 40 AM, June 15 th 1991. • Eruption destroyed 10 villages, Clark Air Base, and killed 720 people, also leaving 200, 000 homeless.

The Plume • The Plume of Mt. Pinatubo rose 40 km into the air. • Ash blocked out the sun, People described the ash falling as if it were snowing. • The mix of molten rock together with heavy rain produced major landslides.

Where did the top of the Mt. Go?

Early warning systems • Thanks to early warning systems, at least 5000 lives were spared, Despite this eruption being the largest of the century to affect a densely populated area.

Long term effects • The eruption affected weather in two ways – The tiny aerosol droplets reflected sunlight way from the Earths surface, causing cooling. – Aerosol reactivated inert chlorine molecules which combine with oxygen molecules and reduce the density of the o-zone layer.

References • U. S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Mount Pinatubo: The June 1991 Eruptions” National Geographic Data Center Boulder, Colorado 80303, U. S. A • Google For the Pictures.