GEOPHYSICAL

CHARACTERISTICS
ARANETA CENTER
 TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPE
• Situated on the Guadalupe Plateau, the City’s topography is largely rolling
with alternating ridges and lowlands. The southern part of the City has a
low grade terrain while the northern half is undulating that culminates at
the Novaliches Reservoir or La Mesa Dam where the water supply for
most of the region is impounded.
 SLOPE
• The city’s slope is generally undulating to rolling. Most of these parts are of Novaliches Clay which is
further categorize as follows; The Urban Land Complex (NvucC/D) with 5-15 percent slope covering an
area of 7,598.62 hectares 47.16%. The Novaliches Urban Land Complex (NvucB) with 2-5 percent slope
and an area of 1,169.20 hectares or 7.26%. The Novaliches Clay (NvC1) with 5-8 percent slope, slightly
eroded has an area of 1,758.52 hectares or 10.91% and the Novaliches Clay (NvD1) with 5-8 percent
slope and an area of 242.41 hectares or 1.50%. The San Luis Clay described as the undulating basaltic
plateau with 2-5 percent slope, slightly eroded covers an area of 1,486.98 hectares or 9.23%. The San
Manuel Clay the minor alluvial plain is also classified into two (2) namely; the San Manuel Clay Loam
(SmA) with 2-5 percent slope covers an area of 136.22 hectares or .85% and San Manuel clay loam
(SmAf1) with 0-2 percent slope, slightly flooded areas covers an area of 108.34 hectares or .67%. The
Burgos Clay, the alluvial fan terraces with 2-5 percent slope covers an area of 557.95 hectares or 3.46%.
Other areas are identified as Escarpment and Built up Areas covers an area of 619.88 hectares or 3.85%
and 102.36 hectares or.63% respectively.
Slope Map
2010
 GEOLOGY
• Based on the presence of both marine and terrestrial mollusks, the area of Metro Manila
has been interpreted to be below sea level during the early Pleistocene (Gervacio, 1968).
Intermittent volcanic eruptions from nearby caldera centers namely Laguna and Taal
calderas located east and south of the metropolis, led to deposition of volcanic gravity
flows which filled up the shallow basin (Catane and Arpa, 1999; Catane et al., 2005).
During repose periods, volcanic sediments are reworked to form lahars and epiclastic
sediments. The end of each volcanic episode is marked by soil horizon. Interbeds of tuff
and re-deposited sediments each with a soil capping is typical sequence of Metro Manila
deposits.
 SOIL
• A survey by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) showed that Quezon City has five (5) soil types,
namely; the Novaliches Loam Series, San Luis Clay, San Manuel Clay, Burgos Clay and Escapment. The Novaliches
Loam series is the predominant soil type commonly called “adobe” it is mainly characterized as hard and compact. It
covers an area of 13,100.86 hectares or 81.31%. The San Luis Clay is a type of soil which is deep, well drained
occurring on undulating plateau derived mainly from weathered product of basalt and andesite. It covers an area of
1,486.98 hectares or 9.23%. The San Manuel Clay Loam is type of soil which is also deep, well drained occurring on
nearly to gently sloping (0-5% slope) river terraces or leeves minor alluvial plain. This type of soil covers an area
244.55 hectares or 1.52%. The Burgos Clay on the other hand which covers an area of 557.95 hectares or 3.46% are
soils which are moderately deep to deep, moderately well drained occurring nearly level to gently sloping or undulating
(2-5% slopes) on fan terraces developed from collu-alluvial deposits. The Built up Area (BU) are generally mixed
alluvial sediments for sand , silt, peaty and mucky materials overlain by filled up materials of mixed volcanic and
marine sediments suitable for urban development. This covers 102.36 hectares or .63%. The Escarpment zone
comprises mainly of rolling to steep side slopes and scarps along periphery of Novaliches towards Muntinlupa or along
Marikina fault, the soils are shallow to moderately deep with scattered stones and boulders. This covers an area of
102.36 hectares or .63%
Soil Map
 HYDROLOGY
• Air Stream
• The principal air streams, which significantly affect the area, are the southwest monsoon,
northeast monsoon, and Pacific trade winds. The southwest monsoon originating from the
north side of the Indian Ocean affects the area during the months of May to October.
During this period the distribution of rainfall is influenced by the vertical situation of shear
line between the South Pacific trade and southeast monsoon. The air mass is classified as
equatorial maritime and is warm and very humid. The northeast monsoon, which affects
the area from October to March, is most dominant during January and February. The
North Pacific trade winds generally prevail during April and May whenever the northeast
and the southwest monsoons are weak. In the Philippines, the northeast monsoon is
associated with the dry season while the southwest monsoon is linked with the wet season.
 HYDROLOGY
• Tropical Cyclones
• Tropical cyclones are the most influential factors that bring considerable rainfall in the Philippines. There are three
classifications of tropical cyclones, namely: depressions which have wind speed of 45 to 63 kph, storms which have wind
speed of 64 to 119 kph and typhoons which have maximum speed of 120 kph or stronger. Typhoons usually occur from
June to December with highest frequencies in July and August. The mean annual number of tropical cyclones that pass
through the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is about 20. The cyclones originate in the region of Marianas and
Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean usually between 125°E and 170°E. Their movements follow westerly or
northwesterly course over the country and deposit substantial amount of rainfall. The most frequent disastrous typhoons
generally occur during the months of October and November.1
 CLIMATE
• Quezon City features a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate
classification Aw/Am), with prominent dry season from December to May,
in which in turn, divided into cool and warm dry seasons, and a
prolonged wet season from June to October that brings heavy rains in
some areas.