Geography and Climate of The Philippines

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Questions and Answers

What type of hazard is primarily caused by living organisms and their toxic substances?

Man-made

Extraterrestrial

Climatological

Biological (correct)

Which of the following is considered an extraterritorial hazard?

Asteroids (correct)

Chemical spills

Wildfires

Volcanic eruptions

What major natural hazards are the Philippines especially prone to due to its geographical location?

Tropical storms and earthquakes (correct)

Biological spills

Nuclear accidents

Climatic changes

Which two tectonic plates converge in the Philippines, increasing its risk of seismic activity?

Philippine Sea and Eurasian Plates Signup and view all the answers

What type of hazard is associated with human actions and can lead to serious disasters?

Man-made Signup and view all the answers

From the content provided, which hazard is NOT classified as a climatological hazard?

Landslides Signup and view all the answers

In addition to tropical storms, what other hazard often leads to floods in the Philippines?

Heavy rain Signup and view all the answers

Which geographic area of the Philippines includes the National Capital Region?

Luzon Signup and view all the answers

How many volcanoes in the Philippines are classified as active?

22 Signup and view all the answers

What type of climate does the Philippines have?

Tropical marine Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major monsoon seasons in the Philippines?

Northeast and Southwest Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the 17 regions in the Philippines?

Region XIV (Davao Gulf) Signup and view all the answers

Which issue is NOT mentioned as a problem in the Philippines?

Desertification Signup and view all the answers

How many islands comprise the Philippines according to the latest measurement?

7,641 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an official language of the Philippines?

Filipino Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main causes of environmental issues in urban centers of the Philippines?

Overpopulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the life expectancy in the Philippines as reported in 2017?

67.6 years Signup and view all the answers

Which religion has the highest percentage in the Philippines according to the 2000 census?

Catholic Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily involved in the disaster risk process?

Combination of hazards, vulnerability, and capacity Signup and view all the answers

What type of disaster arises suddenly and includes examples like earthquakes and floods?

Rapid Onset Disasters Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a category of natural disasters?

Psychological Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the population in the Philippines identified as Muslim in the 2000 census?

5% Signup and view all the answers

What defines a disaster in terms of community impact?

Serious disruption causing widespread losses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered a hydrological hazard?

Flood Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of terrorism as described?

Criminal acts aimed at spreading fear for political purposes. Signup and view all the answers

Which terrorist group is known for its activities in the Philippines?

Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) Signup and view all the answers

What event is described as leaving 7,986 deaths in the Philippines?

Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main impact of Typhoon Bopha?

Affected the Mindanao region with about 1,900 deaths or missing persons. Signup and view all the answers

Which natural disaster caused more than 5,100 deaths due to flash floods?

Tropical Storm Thelma Signup and view all the answers

Which disaster resulted in 1,126 deaths due to a landslide?

Mountain collapse in Guinsaugon Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)?

It became the strongest recorded typhoon to make landfall. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Disaster Risk Management Framework of the Philippines focus on?

Historical data on natural disasters. Signup and view all the answers

Which natural disaster resulted in the highest estimated fatalities in the Philippines according to the provided information?

Moro Gulf Tsunami Signup and view all the answers

On what date did the Baguio Earthquake occur?

July 16, 1990 Signup and view all the answers

What was the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Baguio city?

7.8 Signup and view all the answers

Which typhoon caused fatalities in the Bicol region?

Typhoon Trix Signup and view all the answers

How many people were killed by Typhoon Ike?

1,363 Signup and view all the answers

What was the approximate distance of Taal Volcano from NCR during its eruption?

60 kilometres Signup and view all the answers

What was the cause of death for approximately 1,300 people in the Taal Volcano incident?

Eruption Signup and view all the answers

Which event occurred first among those listed?

Taal Volcano Eruption Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Philippines: Location and Geography

The Philippines is an archipelago located in Southeast Asia, specifically in the western Pacific Ocean between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.
The country comprises 7,641 islands, according to the Philippine Islands Measurements Project conducted by NAMRIA.
The islands are mostly mountainous with coastal lowlands varying in size.
The Philippines is divided into three main geographic areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, each encompassing different regions.

Climate, Language, and Demographics

The Philippines has a tropical marine climate, characterized by a northeast monsoon from November to April and a southwest monsoon from May to October.
Environmental issues include deforestation, soil and water pollution, and air pollution due to urbanization.
The official national language is Filipino, while English serves as the official language for government and education.
Eight major dialects are spoken: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan.
As of 2017, the population of the Philippines was 104,256,076.
Life expectancy within the country is 67.6 years (CIA, 2017).
The religious makeup of the Philippines as per a 2000 census is: Catholic (82.9%), Muslim (5%), Evangelical (2.8%), Iglesia ni Kristo (2.3%), other Christian (4.5%), other (1.8%), unspecified (0.6%), none (0.1%).

Understanding Disasters

A disaster is characterized as a serious disruption impacting a community or society, resulting in widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses exceeding the affected community's coping capacity.
Disasters are classified as follows:
- Rapid Onset Disasters arise suddenly (e.g., earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods).
- Slow Onset Disasters develop over a prolonged period, often months or years (e.g., droughts).

Disaster Types

Natural Disasters are major adverse events caused by natural processes (e.g., floods, hurricanes, typhoons). They are further categorized as:
- Geophysical: originate from the solid Earth (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic activity).
- Meteorological: caused by short-lived weather conditions (e.g., storms, extreme temperatures, fog).
- Hydrological: related to the movement and distribution of water (e.g., floods, landslides, wave action).
- Climatological: long-lived atmospheric processes (e.g., drought, glacial lake outbursts, wildfire).
- Biological: exposure to living organisms or their toxins (e.g., venomous wildlife, insects, poisonous plants, vector-borne diseases).
- Extraterrestrial: originate beyond Earth (e.g., asteroid impacts, space weather).
Man-made Disasters are human-induced events (e.g., chemical spills, workplace fires, terrorist attacks).

The Philippines' Disaster Risk Profile

The Philippines is exposed to various natural hazards, with varying degrees of frequency:
- Earthquakes: Highest exposure
- Volcanic Eruptions: High exposure
- Landslides: High exposure
- Floods: High exposure
- Typhoons: Lowest exposure
The Philippines is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The country is vulnerable to tropical storms, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and droughts.
Notable terrorist groups active in the Philippines include the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), New People’s Army (NPA), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and the Maute Group.
Recent terrorist attacks include the Zamboanga Siege in 2013, resulting in 200 deaths, and the attack on Marawi in 2017.

Top 10 Natural Disasters in the Philippines (Last 100 Years)

1. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) (November 2013): The strongest typhoon to make landfall, causing 7,986 deaths and affecting 16.11 million people.
2. Typhoon Bopha (December 3, 2012): Devastated Mindanao, resulting in 1,900 deaths or missing persons.
3. Typhoon Washi (December 16, 2011): Hit northern Mindanao, causing at least 1,080 deaths.
4. Guinsaugon Landslide (February 17, 2006): A mountainside collapsed in Leyte, killing 1,126 people.
5. Tropical Storm Thelma (November 15, 1991): Caused flash floods in Ormoc, Leyte, killing over 5,100 people.
6. 1990 Baguio Earthquake (July 16, 1990): A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Baguio City and northern Luzon, killing 1,621 people.
7. Typhoon Ike (August 31, 1984): Hit central Philippines, killing 1,363 people.
8. 1976 Moro Gulf Tsunami (August 16, 1976): A tsunami triggered by an earthquake devastated the Moro Gulf in Mindanao, killing between 5,000 and 8,000 people.
9. Typhoon Trix (October 16, 1952): Caused floods and landslides in Bicol, Luzon, killing 995 people.
10. Taal Volcano Eruption (January 30, 1911): Taal Volcano erupted, killing about 1,300 people in nearby villages.

Studying That Suits You

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Description

Explore the unique geography and climate of the Philippines in this quiz. Discover the archipelago of 7,641 islands and learn about its tropical marine climate and environmental challenges. Test your knowledge on the region's demographics, languages, and geographic divisions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.