(Eagle News) — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Thursday, Nov. 9, issued an advisory on what it said was “increased and continuous degassing activity” seen in Taal Volcano.
PHIVOLCS said 11,499 tons/day of volcanic sulfur dioxide or SO2 gas emission were measured from the Taal main crater, the highest recorded SO2 emission from Taal for the year.
“Visual monitors show continued pronounced upwelling of volcanic fluids in the main crater that generated rather short and weak- to moderate-volume degassing plumes,” PHIVOLCS said.
It said, however, that no volcanic smog or vog was observed by visual monitors over Taal Caldera throughout the day.
According to PHIVOLCS, Taal has been “continuously degassing high concentrations of volcanic SO2 since March 2021,” with emissions since September 2023 averaging 5,019 tons/day.
PHIVOLCS said moderate seismicity has also been recently exhibited by Taal.
“Of the 415 volcanic earthquakes recorded since 1 September 2023, 362 were weak volcanic tremors associated with volcanic gas activity,” PHIVOLCS said.
PHIVOLCS reminded the public that Alert Level 1 prevails over the volcano.
He said it means the volcano “is still in abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.”
