PHIVOLCS: Taal Volcano’s sulfur dioxide emission 'anomalously high'

Taal Volcano remained under Alert Level 2 even as it emitted “anomalously high” volcanic sulfur dioxide gas from its crater on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said a total of 23,576 tonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO2) was recorded in the morning, the second highest after the volcano emitted 25,456 tonnes on October 5.

TAAL VOLCANO ADVISORY
15 Oktubre 2021 alas-6 ng gabi#TaalVolcano https://t.co/ZoTY7EGWz8 pic.twitter.com/71Bv2CUGb2

— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) October 15, 2021

Further, degassing at the Taal Main Crater was "noticeably voluminous" and generated steam-laden plumes as tall as 3,000 meters above the Taal Volcano Island (TVI),” it said.

PHIVOLCS said volcanic earthquake activity resumed at the Taal Volcano on October 11 after a period of lull that started on September 27.

It recorded a total of 145 events consisting mostly of weak low-frequency earthquakes and volcanic tremor associated with magma and magnetic gas flow since seismic activity resumed until 4 p.m. Friday.

"In view of the above, DOST-PHIVOLCS is reminding the public that Alert Level 2 prevails over Taal Volcano and that current SO2 parameters indicate high levels of magmatic degassing from the Main Crater that could drive explosive activity," PHIVOLCS said. — VBL, GMA News