MANILA, Philippines — When the picturesque Taal Volcano suddenly rumbled to life last weekend, it did not only spew plumes of ash and steam but also caused the explosion of seemingly alien words that left many scratching their heads. Terms like “phreatic eruption,” “tephra fall” and “base surges” were quickly tossed around, and most people, … Continue reading Phreatic eruptions, tephra falls: Making sense of volcano lingo