March 30, 2022
MANILA — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Tuesday it has recorded three phreatomagmatic explosions and eight volcanic earthquakes at the Taal Volcano in a 24-hour monitoring period.
Phreatomagmatic activity occurs when magma, or the hot, molten material from beneath the earth’s surface, interacts with water.
Pagasa said in a bulletin issued 8 a.m. on Tuesday that the phreatomagmatic bursts from the main crater were recorded at 9:30 a.m., 9:33 a.m., and 9:46 a.m. on Monday. According to the agency, these events produced plumes reaching 400 to 800 meters that drifted southwest.
Meanwhile, the eight volcanic earthquakes consist of a five-minute volcanic tremor and seven low-frequency volcanic earthquakes.
“Activity at the main crater was dominated by upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in its lake which generated plumes 2,400 meters tall that drifted southwest. Sulfur dioxide emission averaged 4,273 tonnes/day on 28 March 2022. Temperature highs of 63.7°C were last measured from the Main Crater Lake on 25 February 2022,” Phivolcs reported.
Alert Level 3 was raised over the Taal Volcano on Saturday after it showed a series of short phreatomagmatic bursts, which means there is a “magmatic intrusion” at the main crater “that may further drive succeeding eruptions.”