Phivolcs detects 16 volcanic quakes at Taal Volcano
ICONIC Taal Volcano’s iconic beauty, as seen from Tagaytay City. —PHOTO COURTESY OF JILLIAN DUMAS
LUCENA CITY, Philippines — Taal Volcano in Batangas province recorded 16 volcanic earthquakes over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Wednesday.
In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs said the volcanic quakes were accompanied by eight volcanic tremors lasting between two and 32 minutes.
Phivolcs explained that volcanic earthquakes are generated by magmatic or magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano. Unlike tectonic quakes caused by faulting, volcanic quakes stem from a variety of sources.
Volcanic tremors are described as continuous seismic signals with regular or irregular oscillations and low frequencies — typically between 0.5 and 5 hertz — that can last more than a minute. These may be triggered by magma or magmatic gas flowing through cracks and vents, overlapping low-frequency earthquakes, or actual eruptions.
Phivolcs also reported a moderate sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission estimated at 381 metric tons. The gas plume rose about 900 meters from the main crater and drifted northeast.
That figure is lower than the 536 metric tons recorded Monday, and significantly lower than the 1,351 metric tons measured on June 1 and the 4,061 metric tons logged on May 30.
No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the main crater lake on Taal Volcano Island, which sits in the middle of Taal Lake. No volcanic smog, or “vog,” was detected during the latest monitoring period.
Taal remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest.
Phivolcs reminded the public that the volcano is still in an abnormal condition, and the lower emissions should not be interpreted as a sign that volcanic activity or the threat of eruption has ceased.
READ: Taal Volcano’s sulfur dioxide emissions decrease
