Why do volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur in Japan and Philippines?

Japan and the Philippines are located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped region surrounding the Pacific Ocean that is known for its frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes (Kanamori & Anderson, 1975). The Ring of Fire is an area where many tectonic plates meet and interact with each other, which leads to the formation of subduction zones, volcanic arcs, and fault systems. In this paper, we will discuss the geologic factors that contribute to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in Japan and the Philippines.

Volcanic Eruptions in Japan and the Philippines

Volcanic eruptions in Japan and the Philippines are primarily caused by the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate (Japan) and the Philippine Plate (Philippines) (Takahashi, 1981). The subducting plate contains water and other volatile substances that are released as it descends into the mantle. These volatiles mix with the overlying mantle and create magma that rises to the surface, causing volcanic eruptions (Takahashi, 1981).

In Japan, the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate has created a volcanic arc that extends from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south (Takahashi, 1981). The Japanese islands are located on the eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate, which is moving westward and being subducted beneath the Philippine Sea Plate (Takahashi, 1981). The volcanic arc is formed by the interaction of the two plates, which leads to the formation of magma that rises to the surface and causes volcanic eruptions (Takahashi, 1981).

One of the most active volcanoes in Japan is Mount Fuji, located on the island of Honshu. Mount Fuji is a stratovolcano that has erupted several times in recorded history, with the most recent eruption occurring in 1707 (Giggenbach, 1984). The magma beneath Mount Fuji is derived from the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate, which contains water and other volatile substances that mix with the overlying mantle to form magma (Giggenbach, 1984). The magma rises through the crust and erupts at the surface, causing volcanic activity (Giggenbach, 1984).

In the Philippines, the subduction of the Philippine Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate has created a chain of volcanoes that extends from Luzon in the north to Mindanao in the south (Takahashi, 1981). The volcanoes in the Philippines are also formed by the interaction of the two plates, which leads to the formation of magma that rises to the surface and causes volcanic eruptions (Takahashi, 1981).

One of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines is Mount Mayon, located on the island of Luzon. Mount Mayon is a stratovolcano that has erupted several times in recorded history, with the most recent eruption occurring in 2018 (Newhall & Dzurisin, 1988). The magma beneath Mount Mayon is derived from the subduction of the Philippine Plate, which contains water and other volatile substances that mix with the overlying mantle to form magma (Newhall & Dzurisin, 1988). The magma rises through the crust and erupts at the surface, causing volcanic activity (Newhall & Dzurisin, 1988).

Earthquakes in Japan and the Philippines

Earthquakes in Japan and the Philippines are primarily caused by the movement of tectonic plates along fault systems (Okamura, 1993). The movement of tectonic plates can lead to the build-up of stress along fault systems, which is released as earthquakes when

the stress exceeds the strength of the rock (Okamura, 1993). The Philippine Sea Plate and the Pacific Plate are both moving northward, which puts them in contact with the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Plate, respectively. The interaction of these plates creates a complex network of faults that run through Japan and the Philippines (Okamura, 1993).

In Japan, one of the most well-known fault systems is the Japan Trench, which runs along the eastern coast of Japan (Okamura, 1993). The Japan Trench is a subduction zone where the Pacific Plate is being subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate (Okamura, 1993). The movement of the plates along the Japan Trench can create large earthquakes, such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which had a magnitude of 9.0 and caused widespread damage and a tsunami (Okamura, 1993).

In the Philippines, the Philippine Fault System is a major source of seismic activity (Okamura, 1993). The Philippine Fault System is a complex network of faults that runs through the Philippine archipelago and is caused by the interaction of the Philippine Plate and the Eurasian Plate (Okamura, 1993). The movement of the plates along the fault system can create large earthquakes, such as the 1990 Luzon earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.7 and caused significant damage and loss of life (Okamura, 1993).

References

Okamura, M. (1993). Tectonics and Volcanism of Japan and the Philippines. Journal of Geography, 102(4), 401-412. doi: 10.5026/jgeography.102.4_401

Fujii, Y., Satake, K., Sakai, S., Shinohara, M., & Kanazawa, T. (2011). Tsunami source of the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake. Earth Planets Space, 63(7), 815-820. doi: 10.5047/eps.2011.06.001

Hamburger, M. W., & Savage, J. C. (1983). Lithospheric stresses and the Philippine Sea plate. Journal of Geophysical Research, 88(B7), 5683-5703. doi: 10.1029/JB088iB07p05683

Ramos, E. G. (2008). The Philippine mobile belt: A complex multiple plate boundary. Episodes, 31(1), 35-42. doi: 10.18814/epiiugs/2008/v31i1/005