Sinkhole

- is the hole or depression that is left when the

ground above it falls into the cavity.

Geologic mapping is good start for making

sure if the rocks in the area of carbonate material.
Ground-testing equipment such as ground
penetrating radar can help look for forming holes
in the subsurface.

A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is able to

look for objects in the subsurface.
 LANDSLIDES
Landslide is the downslope movement of material due
to the failure of slopes or from triggering factors. It can be
destructive both to life and property. Triggering events of
landslides vary from excessive rainfall, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, erosion, and human-induced.
Communities near mountainsides and deep valleys are at
highest risk for landslides
Landslide mitigation is categorized into soft and hard
measures. Soft measures include information dissemination,
ground monitoring and susceptibility mapping. Hard
measures include engineering works designen to lessen the
impact of a mass wasting event.
Different Engineering Measures in Preventing Mass
Wasting Events
 Terracing/Benching
 Drainage
 Retaining Wall
 Friction Piles
 Geogrid
 Biotechnical Slope Stabilization
 Shotcrete
 Rock Bolts
 Sheet Piling
 METEOROLOGICAL
HAZARDS
Meteorological hazards include the effects of
cyclones, tornadoes, and monsoon rain. Because
they are often treated as weather disturbances,
these hazards are often the ones easily monitored
in which communities are most likely prepared for.
The use of satellite imagery, data from ocean
temperatures, wind patterns, and pressure allows
us to more or less have a good prediction of
whether a cyclone or tornado is approaching.
Effects of Hydrometeorological Hazards and Ways to Lessen their Impact to
Communities
(1) Strong winds are usually associated with cyclones and tornadoes. Even
though most structures built nowadays can resist strong winds, plantations
and fields are at highest risk for destruction. Strong winds can uproot
tress, destroy power cable, and remove roofs of houses.
(2) Floods are caused by excessive amount of rain that is associated with
cyclones and monsoon changes. Floods claim millions of lives annually
making them one of the most destructive effects of meteorological
hazards. In urbanized areas, floods can be very high because the ground
itself cannot take in rainwater anymore. Drainage systems are clogged
and the surface water cannot flow to basins and flood gates.
Mitigating the effect or occurrence of flooding during meteorological
hazard is not just by planting trees. Remember that plants themselves do not
take in water that is ore than what they can handle. Instead, vegetation
actually helps the ground accommodate more rainwater by loosening the soil.
For urbanized areas, unclogging drainage pathways is a good way to lessen
 VOLCANIC HAZARDS
We have discussed volcanic hazard and to mitigate their destructive effects
in the previous section under geologic processes and hazard. This section will
focus on looking at some of our local active volcanoes and note their previous
historic eruptions.
A volcano is considered active if it has erupted or showed signs of activity
during (1)historic times (last 600 years; in written records or documented by
man) up to (2) the last 10000 years verified from the age of rocks. Some
volcanoes are considered potentially active if they show morphologically-young
character but with no historical records of eruption . Mount Apo, the highest
mountain in the Philippines, is considered a potentially active volcano. Inactive
volcanoes had no signs of eruption during historic times and already showing
signs of intense weathering and erosion of topography. The Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) monitors active volcanoes and records
earthquakes. As of writing, PHIVOLCS has listed 23 active volcanoes. It is
important to constantly monitor our active, potentially-active, and inactive
volcanoes because they can bring immense damage to life and property of
 COAST-RELATED HAZARDS
Coastal communities are most affected by wave erosion, tidal fluctuations, flooding,
tsunamis, storm surges, and are first in line when typhoons make landfall. Aside from being
vulnerable to such hazards, coastal communities are also affected by submersion and saltwater
intrusion.
Different Hazards Associated with Living Near the Coast and The Things We Can Do to Minimize
Their Effects
(1) Beach erosion is a natural process from the action of waves. Structures built along coasts are
destroyed because of wave action. Several measures can be employed such as groins and
seawalls to help minimize the effects of waves on the beach. Others engage in beach
nourishment by artificially adding sediments. Although the effects of beach erosion vary
from place to place, we should still be aware that we use resources in order to build
structures that can be easily destroyed in time.
(2) Tides are the natural rise and fall of sea level due to the revolution of the moon around the
earth. The occurrence of high tides can bring seawater inland which can generate flooding.
At the same time, this landward movement of water from the pull of tides (tidal currents)
bring significant amount of sediments that can block or clog drainage pathways preventing
the return of water to the sea once the tide subsides. A tidal wave is mistakenly identified as
a tsunami. Tsunamis are, again, usually caused by earthquakes or landslides and not by
(3) Storm surge is the landward movement of seawater caused by a strong
weather disturbance offshore. The effects of a storm surge maybe similar to
a tsunami but remember that they differ in their origin. Storm surge last
longer than tsunamis because the weather disturbance continuously
generates large waves offshore. Although flooding is a main concern for
storm surges, the waves that are generated during strong storm surges are
also capable of destroying structures. Construction of seawalls can lower the
impact of incoming waves.
(4) Saltwater intrusion is more of a resource problem rather than a geologic
hazard. Groundwater is the freshwater that is found underground within the
spaces of sediments and rocks. You’ve probably experienced this freshwater
resource through the use of wells and groundwater pumps . Groundwater
comes from the precipitation that infiltrates the ground and travels through
the connected spaces within sediments and rocks. Groundwater, just like
surface water will eventually flow back to the sea. However, because
seawater contains more salt (and is denser) than freshwater, groundwater
don’t normally mix with seawater. This separation of groundwater and
seawater allows freshwater to be extracted in wells even in communities
near the shore.
 Land Reclamation is the conversion of a certain part of the ocean,
sea, lake, or river into new land. This method is pretty straightforward
by simply filling the area with rock and sediments until dry land is
achieved. The most common reason for land reclamation is
agriculture. A reclaimed land can be highly susceptible to different
hazards because it is not as stable as natural landforms. Liquefaction,
flooding, and subsidence (lowering of land elevation) are usually the
problems that are encountered in reclaimed areas. An area for
reclamation is usually reported first before actual “filling in” happens.
Nevertheless, identification of reclaimed areas should be visible from
comparison with old maps. Natural coastal process are also able to
remove the materials used for the filling of a reclaimed land. The
modification of the shoreline affects the overall path of waves which
could lead to the aggravation of the effects of coastal erosion in some
areas.
 MAPS, HAZARDS, AND MAN
A map can only tell us so much about an area in relation to
hazards. Even though hazards are brought naturally by earth
process, we are now able to predict (with good accuracy) some
hazards such as cyclones and volcanic eruptions from years of data
and observations. There are still hazards that we cannot predict but
our knowledge in the disciplines has allowed us to lessen or
mitigate their destructive effects. We are now able to intentionally
influence weather (e.g. cloud seeding during dry months) and
modify landscapes (e.g. land reclamation). Man has progressed
from simply observing nature to actively trying to manipulate it for
his use. The limits of the geosphere are continuously being
expanded by human works (some intentional, some are not). We
have the potential to influence and modify the planet in so many.