Phivolcs: Taal Volcano continues to be shaken by quakes

A map released by state volcanologists show the locations, indicated by red dots, of earthquakes at Taal Volcano in the past 24 hours. The paler dots show the locations of earthquakes that occurred in the past two weeks. — Photo from Phivolcs/Facebook LUCENA CITY — Volcanic earthquakes and tremors continued to be recorded at Taal Volcano in Batangas province, although overall seismic activity declined over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Friday (July 24). In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs said the volcano generated 31 volcanic earthquakes, accompanied by an ongoing volcanic tremor that has persisted since 5:42 a.m. on July 23. Despite the prolonged tremor, Phivolcs said there is no immediate cause for alarm, explaining that volcanic tremors are a normal occurrence at Taal Volcano. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Renewed unrest at Taal Volcano as quakes surge, SO₂ emissions rise The agency said volcanic earthquakes are seismic events generated by magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano. Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous low-frequency seismic signals that may appear as regular or irregular waveforms, typically ranging from 0.5 to 5 hertz. According to Phivolcs, tremors may be caused by several volcanic processes, including the resonance of magma moving through cracks and vents, closely spaced low-frequency earthquakes that merge into a continuous signal, or volcanic explosions. The latest monitoring, however, showed a significant decline in seismic activity compared with the previous 24-hour period, when 61 volcanic earthquakes and three volcanic tremors were recorded. Article continues after this advertisement Phivolcs also measured 741 metric tons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emitted from Taal’s main crater. The volcanic plume rose approximately 759 meters before drifting southeast. No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the Main Crater Lake on Volcano Island, locally known as “Pulo,” which lies at the center of Taal Lake. Article continues after this advertisement The agency likewise reported that no volcanic smog, or vog, was observed during the monitoring period. Taal Volcano remains under Alert Level 1, indicating low-level volcanic unrest. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Phivolcs reminded the public that the volcano remains in an abnormal condition, stressing that Alert Level 1 does not mean volcanic activity has completely ceased or that the possibility of hazardous eruptions has been eliminated. /das