Type of volcano

Mt. Pinatubo is a composite volcano.

Geologic location

Mt. Pinatubo is in Luzon, Phillipines. It is on the phillipine plate (a convergent plate boundry).

Eruption History

The most recent eruption was in 1993 but, the most famous eruption was in 1991 one of the largest eruptions in the 1900's. During this eruption 50000 nearby vilagers fled the area then on June 12 1991 Pinatubo let loose the 1st of what would be a set of major eruptions. A cloud of grey ash blasted 15240 meters in the air. When it reached 19 kilometeres in the air it began to roll sideways. It remained this way with small eruptions and pyroclastic flows for a couple of days then hurricanes and heavy rainfall started to happen and the scientists there knew a typhoon was coming and realized lahars (heavy mudflows) where going to be a serious threat. The lahars ended up drowning 23000 people in thick mud. On June 15 5:55 A.M. Mt. Pinatubo sent up a fountain-shaped grey cloud and that ash combined with the rain and fell of surounding cities. Then at 1:42 P.M. Mount Pinatubo erupted the largest eruption in almost a century. The pyroclastic flows almost overwhelmed the scientists but it stoped before it got to their lab. The aftermath of this eruption was 350 people dead. Ash blackened thousands of square miles. However, 1 million people had their lives threatened and if it wasnt for the scientists hard work it would be much more devastating.

Volcano shapes

Mt. Pinatubo is 1486 meters in height. Before the eruption in 1991, Mt. Pinatubo was a dome volcano but after a coldera formed. Its crater is tayawan. Its domes are bintuin, Mount cuadrado, mataba, Mount Negron and Tapungho.

Eruption style

When Pinatubo erupts it creates pyroclastic flows, phreatic explosions, lava dome extrusion, lahars, basaltic and andesetic lava, and is a central vent eruption.

Enviornmental dangers/benifits

There is great fertal soil around Pinatubo from previous eruptions. People live and thrive off of this soil so they plant crops around Pinatubo so when it erupts buildings, crops, and other wildlife around pinatubo are destroyed. Also when Pinatubo erupts the people mucst evacuate their homes.