PHIVOLCS RECORDED EARTHQUAKES, PHREATIC ERUPTION IN TAAL VOLCANO


Volcanic activities such as minor eruptions and earthquakes were monitored in Taal Volcano in Batangas by Phivolcs (Photo courtesy of Phivolcs/Philippine Star)
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that a minor phreatic eruption was recorded at Taal volcano in Batangas province on Thursday. Aside from this, at least 26 volcanic earthquakes were also detected over the last 24 hours.
A phreatic eruption is a “steam-driven explosion that occurs when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or new volcanic deposits (for example, tephra and pyroclastic-flow deposits),” Phivolcs explained.
The eruption produced a 1,500-meter white plume that drifted southwest and was recorded by cameras at Phivolcs’ Cuenca and Buco stations. A long-term deflation of the Taal Caldera and a short-term inflation of the general northern and southeastern flanks of the Taal Volcano Island were monitored.
On Thursday, Phivolcs recorded the emission of 6,307 metric tons of sulfur dioxide from Taal’s main crater, which rose 600 meters high before drifting southwest. The agency classified the volcano’s latest spewing activity as “weak emission.”
While the volcanic earthquakes recorded were accompanied by a single volcanic tremor that lasted two minutes. No volcanic smog, or “vog,” was also observed during the latest monitoring period.
Phivolcs defines volcanic earthquakes as those “generated by magmatic processes or magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano. Unlike tectonic earthquakes that are produced by faulting, volcanic earthquakes are directly produced by many processes and are therefore much more varied in characteristics.”
Volcanic tremors, on the other hand, are “continuous seismic signals with regular or irregular oscillations and low frequencies (typically 0.5–5 Hz) that can last for more than a minute,” the agency explained.
The Phivolcs added, “Tremor can be caused by different process inside the volcano including resonance triggered by magma or magmatic gas flowing through cracks and vents, successive overlapping low-frequency earthquakes, and eruptions of magma.”
Entry into the permanent danger zone as well as occupancy and boating around Taal Lake should be prohibited to avoid potential hazards, which may include steam-driven, phreatic or gas-driven explosions, earthquakes, ashfall and lethal accumulation of volcanic gas according to Phivolcs.
Phivolcs reiterated that Alert Level 1 is maintained over Taal Volcano, citing the volcano is in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.
Source: Manila Standard
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