Phivolcs detects more quakes, tremors in Taal Volcano
CLEAR VIEW A small cloud of steam rises from Taal Volcano, as seen from Tagaytay City—ROBERT JAWORSKI L. ABAÑO/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LUCENA CITY – Volcanic earthquakes and tremors continued to be detected at Taal Volcano in Batangas province, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Saturday.
In its bulletin, Phivolcs said at least seven volcanic earthquakes were recorded over the last 24-hour period. The series of quakes were accompanied by six volcanic tremors that lasted five to eight minutes.
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,” the agency explained.
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Article continues after this advertisementVolcanic 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.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe Phivolcs added, “Tremor can be caused by different processes 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.”
Weak emission
On Thursday, state volcanologists detected seven earthquakes and six tremors, four tremors on Wednesday, and 11 earthquakes along with seven tremors on Tuesday.
From Dec. 20 to 23, the volcano recorded 10 earthquakes and 18 tremors.
During the latest observation period on Friday, Phivolcs noted the emission of 1,181 metric tons (MT) of SO2 from Taal Volcano’s main crater, which only rose to 300 meters high.
The Phivolcs classified the latest spewing activity of the volcano as “weak emission.”
There were no reports of upwelling hot volcanic fluids in the main crater lake of Taal Volcano Island, which sits in the middle of Taal Lake.
No volcanic smog, or “vog,” was also observed during the latest monitoring period.
Taal Volcano is still under alert level 1 (low level of volcanic unrest), Phivolcs said.
The agency reminded the public that Taal Volcano remained in an “abnormal condition” and “should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”
READ: Phivolcs logs 51 tremors at Taal Volcano in 24 hours; Alert level 2 stays
