Taal Volcano鈥檚 sulfur dioxide emissions decrease
Taal Volcano’s iconic beauty, as seen from Tagaytay City, on this clear Sunday, April 13. —PHOTO COURTESY OF JILLIAN DUMAS
LUCENA CITY, Philippines — Taal Volcano’s emission of harmful sulfur dioxide gas has decreased, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Tuesday.
Phivolcs said a total of 536 metric tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) was recorded from the volcano’s main crater over the past 24 hours. The gas plume rose 900 meters before drifting northeast.
That figure is significantly lower than the 1,351 metric tons measured on June 1 and much lower than the 4,061 metric tons logged on May 30.
READ: 1 minor phreatic eruption, 4 volcanic tremors logged at Taal Volcano
No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the main crater lake on Taal Volcano Island — locally known as “Pulo” — which sits in the middle of Taal Lake.
No volcanic smog, or “vog,” was detected during the latest monitoring period.
Phivolcs also recorded nine volcanic earthquakes during the same observation window.
The volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest.
Phivolcs reminded the public that the volcano remains in an abnormal condition and that the decreased emissions should not be interpreted as a sign that unrest or the threat of eruption has ended.
On May 29, a minor phreatic eruption occurred at the main crater, lasting four minutes and generating a white plume that rose 1,500 meters.
Phreatic eruptions are steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground or on the surface is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks or new volcanic deposits, according to Phivolcs.
