In reconstructing the Pangea, I got help from an image-editing software called Adobe Photoshop. From the seven pieces, I first glued together South America, Africa, and Antartica based on the “desert” symbol. Then I worked on North America and Eurasia based on the Plateosaurus. Then I pieced it together with the first three based on the “basalt” symbol. The only pieces left after this were Australia and India. I placed India between Africa and Antartica because it fitted perfectly, and the Rhynchosaur hints its confirmation. Lastly, I connected Australia with Antartica based on the “amphibian” symbol.
The major Philippine volcanoes are distributed along the convergent boundary of the Philippine Plate and the Eurasian Plate, particularly along the subduction zones associated with the Manila Trench and the Philippine Trench formed by the collision of the two plates.
The subduction zone associated with the Manila Trench is responsible for the chain of volcanoes on the west side of Luzon, which includes Mount Pinatubo. On the other hand, the subduction zone associated with the Philippine Trench is responsible for most of the rest of the volcanoes in the Philippines, including the currently active Mayon Volcano.
How is the Plate Tectonics Theory related to this? The central idea in the Plate Tectonics Theory is that the Earth is active and constantly in motion; that the Earth’s surface is divided into several plates and they are constantly gliding over the mantle. Volcanism is one of the processes that point to this dynamic nature of the Earth.
Image source: Tectonics and Volcanoes of the Philippines
Three pieces of polvoron are each placed inside three small glass jars labelled A, B, and C. In container A, 5mL of water is dropped to the polvoron. The one in container B remains dry, but the jar is shaken vigorously for 20 seconds. Container C gets a combination of both: after dropping 5mL of water to the polvoron, the jar is then shaken vigorously for 20 seconds.
A small amount of water collects at the surface of the polvoron in container A, gradually seeping through the polvoron. There was no noticeable change in its form so I decided to let it dry for a day. When I came into it the next day, it had already broken into pieces. (Hover over image below to see before and after.) Illustrated in this set-up is a type of chemical weathering where rocks break down when combined with water. It is important to note, however, that when actual chemical weathering happens, there is also a real change in the chemical composition of the rocks. An example of this would be limestone statues damaged by acid rain.
In container B, the polvoron is forced out of its original shape by the shaking. A good half has been grinded down into small particles. This set up is a good demonstration of how physical weathering works. A similar process can be seen when huge waves, carrying fragments of rocks, pound against the shore and break it down into smaller pieces.
In action in container C is a combination of both physical and chemical weathering. The water aids in softening the polvoron, representing how chemical weathering aids in weakening rocks to make them more susceptible to breaking down. The shaking represents the process of breaking apart the rocks by physical weathering. Similar to this is how rocks on a shore, some of which may have already passed through chemical weathering, further break down into smaller pieces because of the pressure the waves are putting every time it crashes the shore. This set-up results in the most breakdown of particles since it combines both the processes of physical and chemical weathering.
We visited our family in Batangas and I took these photos there. In the morning, when the tides are low, there would be a sand bar not far from the little beach house we stayed in.
How is this an evidence of erosion? The fragments and sediments collected from eroded coastlines make up the particles of sand, which in turn make up the beach and sand bars.
Just weeks after a major earthquake hit Nepal, experts have reported that the Philippines will also soon be experiencing a similar disaster once the West Valley Fault moves. This earthquake, nicknamed as the “Big One”, could possibly generate a magnitude of 7.2 and cause approximately 40,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries. The worst part about it is that we know from the nature of earthquakes that it can strike without warning. The next best move we have, as pointed out in the article, is try to minimize – if not avoid – the devastation it will cause.
We have to immediately take action. We cannot take the dangers lightly. We cannot just leave everything to the government and wait for them to prepare us for the calamity and hope for the best. Especially since the one we have seems too complacent, as demonstrated first by the fact that most buildings do not follow the standard quality of construction, and second by the fact that the government has only conducted a disaster risk reduction and management program after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013.
The initiative should start on us. We, as individuals, should try our best to prepare ourselves and our families for the worst situations that might happen. It could be as simple as knowing what to do before, during, and after the earthquake; knowing what the earthquake hazards are in the area; preparing an emergency kit; setting up the furniture in a way that will create the smallest damage when the earthquake strikes; or just by knowing the structural integrity of our houses. This is where our survival depends on. As long as we keep doing the best we can do to be prepared, a lot of lives could be saved.
No life on Earth can exist without plants. Plants are the main source of food and energy on our planet, whether it be directly or indirectly. They are the main producers of the food web. Once they’re gone, the food web disintegrates. And more than anything else, they are the source of the air we need for breathing. Plants quite simply are the foundation of life on Earth. Thus, all life depend on plants for survival.
