Taal Volcano records 152 volcanic quakes, ‘short-lived’ phreatomagmatic burst

By: Cathrine Gonzales - 3 years ago

FILE- Taal Volcano/GRIG C.MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 152 volcanic earthquakes and a brief phreatomagmatic (water and magma interact to produce an eruption) burst at the Taal Volcano in a 24-hour monitoring period.

Phivolcs said on Thursday that the 152 earthquakes include 33 volcanic tremor events with durations of one to two minutes, 114 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, five hybrid events, and low-level background tremor that has persisted since July 7, 2021.

“One short-lived phreatomagmatic burst was recorded at 3:55 PM yesterday that lasted 2 minutes based on the seismic record. This event produced a plume 300 meters tall that drifted southwest,” Phivolcs said in its volcano bulletin issued at 8 a.m.

An upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the volcano’s lake generated plumes 900 meters tall that drifted south-southwest dominated activity at the volcano’s main crater, the agency said.

Sulfur dioxide emission averaged 7,902 tonnes per day on Wednesday, said Phivolcs.

“Based on ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR monitoring, Taal Volcano Island and the Taal region has begun deflating in October 2021,” it added.

Alert level 2, which signifies increased unrest, is still raised over Taal Volcano. Under this alert level, sudden steam or gas-driven explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within and around the Taal Volcano Island, according to Phivolcs.

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