Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Sulfur dioxide emissions from Taal Volcano fell sharply, but seismic activity remained elevated as the volcano stayed under Alert Level 1, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Sunday.
Phivolcs recorded 107 metric tons of sulfur dioxide from Taal’s main crater over the past 24 hours, a level it classified as weak.
The latest reading was well below the daily average of 422 metric tons monitored from August 5 to 14.
Despite the decline in gas emissions, Phivolcs detected 67 volcanic earthquakes during the same period, slightly lower than the 74 recorded a day earlier.
The activity also included one volcanic tremor that lasted about 10 minutes.
The latest seismic figures remained below the recent peak recorded on July 6, when Phivolcs logged 120 volcanic earthquakes and 113 volcanic tremors.
No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the Main Crater Lake, while no volcanic smog, or vog, was reported.
Taal remained under Alert Level 1, which indicates low-level unrest. Phivolcs reminded the public that the volcano remains in an abnormal condition and that an eruption cannot be completely ruled out.