Phivolcs: Taal's main crater lake drained by volcanic activity
Published Jan 15, 2020 12:00 am
By Alexandria San Juan
Taal Volcano's Main Crater Lake has dried up on the fourth day of its eruption activity, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
(Photo by Atty Dante T. Pamintuan | Ayala Westgrove Heights)
Analyzing satellite images of Taal obtained by the agency, Phivolcs ' Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Mariton Bornas said the Main Crater Lake has been drained.
"Nakita natin na vaporized na, wala na ang Main Crater Lake," Bornas said in a press conference on Wednesday, adding the lake is now covered with ash due to the continuous eruption of Taal.
(We have observed that the Main Crater Lake has vaporized, it has disappeared.)
State volcanologists also observed that portions of Pansipit River are drying up, while new vent craters have appeared inside the main crater and on the north part of the volcano.
Pansipit River, which passes through the towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas, and Taal in Batangas, is the sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake, which empties to Balayan Bay.
According to Bornas, the vaporization of the water in the main crater could be attributed to several explanations, including the series of volcanic quakes have been occurring near Taal in the past days.
"Yung pinaka-evident ay yung dahil nga sunud-sunod ang paglindol, umatras ang tubig ng lawa at ngayon ay natuyo yung portions ng Pansipit River. Nagkaroon siguro ng pag-alsa o uplift nung Taal region," Bornas said.
(What’s evident is because of the continuous tremors, the lake water receded and now portions of Pansipit River are dry. There must have been a rise or uplift of Taal region.)
Another possible reason, Bornas shared, is the possibility of having an underwater fissure where water began to seep through, due to the continuous appearance of new fissures in several towns surrounding the volcano.
"Posible din na yung mga bitak sa Lemery, ito ay dire-diretso hanggang Talisay, baka mayroon tayong mga underwater fissures sa floor o sa ilalim ng Taal Lake at nag-seep ang tubig dito," she explained. "But in general, lahat ng ito ay related sa ground deformation na dulot ng pagtulak ng magma paakyat ng bulkan."
(It’s possible that the cracks in Lemery go all the way to Talisay, or there could be underwater fissures on the floor or underneath Taal Lake, and the water seeped there. But in general, all of this is related to ground deformation brought about by the pressure of magma rising in the volcano.)
In the latest update on Taal's activity, Bornas said the agency's seismic monitoring network plotted 53 volcanic tremors near the volcano from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 12 of which were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity I to III.
This brings the total number of volcanic quakes reported to 520 since Taal's phreatic or steam-driven eruption on Sunday afternoon. At least 169 of these tremblors were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity I to V.
New fissures or opening up of the ground were also observed in Barangay Sambal Ibaba in the town of Lemery on Wednesday.
This is in addition to the previously identified fissures in Barangays Sinisian, Mahabang Dahilig, Dayapan, Palanas, Sangalang, Poblacion, and Mataas na Bayan also in Lemery; Pansipit and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3, and Poblacion 5 in Talisay; and Poblacion in San Nicolas.
Phivolcs said the continuous occurrence of volcanic quakes and fissures means there is still a movement of magma underneath Taal which may lead to further eruptive activity.
"Yung potential for an explosive eruption base yun sa monitoring parameters natin, Mainly, yung earthquake activity hindi naman naiibsan. Dire-diretso yung mga earthquakes na nare-record natin and they are considerable in magnitude for a volcanic earthquake. So talagang may tumutulak pa rin na magma pataas," Bornas explained.
(The potential for an explosive eruption is based on our monitoring parameters. Mainly, earthquake activity is unceasing. We are recording continuous tremors and they are considerable in magniture for a volcanic earthquake. So there really is magma pushing upward.)
Bornas also pointed out that Taal's hazardous explosive eruption is still possible as its danger level is still at 4, a notch below the highest alert level of 5, which already indicates an ongoing eruption.
"Lagi pong nandyan ang chance na magkaroon ng malaking pagputok lalo na ngayon na sige-sige pa rin ang malalaking volcanic earthquakes," she said. (The chance for a big eruption is always there, especially now that the big volcanic earthquakes are continuous.)
Bornas cited the historical eruptions of Taal, where at least four were recorded to be disruptive, that killed thousands of people due to the hazards brought by its explosion.
"Kung titingan natin yung history, 50-50, kung titingnan natin yung monitoring record ngayon, malaki yung chance na magkaroon tayo ng explosive eruption," Bornas said. (If we look at history, 50-50, if we look at the monitoring record now, there’s a big chance that we’ll have an explosive eruption.)
(Photo by Atty Dante T. Pamintuan | Ayala Westgrove Heights)
Analyzing satellite images of Taal obtained by the agency, Phivolcs ' Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division chief Mariton Bornas said the Main Crater Lake has been drained.
"Nakita natin na vaporized na, wala na ang Main Crater Lake," Bornas said in a press conference on Wednesday, adding the lake is now covered with ash due to the continuous eruption of Taal.
(We have observed that the Main Crater Lake has vaporized, it has disappeared.)
State volcanologists also observed that portions of Pansipit River are drying up, while new vent craters have appeared inside the main crater and on the north part of the volcano.
Pansipit River, which passes through the towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas, and Taal in Batangas, is the sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake, which empties to Balayan Bay.
According to Bornas, the vaporization of the water in the main crater could be attributed to several explanations, including the series of volcanic quakes have been occurring near Taal in the past days.
"Yung pinaka-evident ay yung dahil nga sunud-sunod ang paglindol, umatras ang tubig ng lawa at ngayon ay natuyo yung portions ng Pansipit River. Nagkaroon siguro ng pag-alsa o uplift nung Taal region," Bornas said.
(What’s evident is because of the continuous tremors, the lake water receded and now portions of Pansipit River are dry. There must have been a rise or uplift of Taal region.)
Another possible reason, Bornas shared, is the possibility of having an underwater fissure where water began to seep through, due to the continuous appearance of new fissures in several towns surrounding the volcano.
"Posible din na yung mga bitak sa Lemery, ito ay dire-diretso hanggang Talisay, baka mayroon tayong mga underwater fissures sa floor o sa ilalim ng Taal Lake at nag-seep ang tubig dito," she explained. "But in general, lahat ng ito ay related sa ground deformation na dulot ng pagtulak ng magma paakyat ng bulkan."
(It’s possible that the cracks in Lemery go all the way to Talisay, or there could be underwater fissures on the floor or underneath Taal Lake, and the water seeped there. But in general, all of this is related to ground deformation brought about by the pressure of magma rising in the volcano.)
In the latest update on Taal's activity, Bornas said the agency's seismic monitoring network plotted 53 volcanic tremors near the volcano from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 12 of which were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity I to III.
This brings the total number of volcanic quakes reported to 520 since Taal's phreatic or steam-driven eruption on Sunday afternoon. At least 169 of these tremblors were felt with intensities ranging from Intensity I to V.
New fissures or opening up of the ground were also observed in Barangay Sambal Ibaba in the town of Lemery on Wednesday.
This is in addition to the previously identified fissures in Barangays Sinisian, Mahabang Dahilig, Dayapan, Palanas, Sangalang, Poblacion, and Mataas na Bayan also in Lemery; Pansipit and Bilibinwang in Agoncillo; Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Poblacion 3, and Poblacion 5 in Talisay; and Poblacion in San Nicolas.
Phivolcs said the continuous occurrence of volcanic quakes and fissures means there is still a movement of magma underneath Taal which may lead to further eruptive activity.
"Yung potential for an explosive eruption base yun sa monitoring parameters natin, Mainly, yung earthquake activity hindi naman naiibsan. Dire-diretso yung mga earthquakes na nare-record natin and they are considerable in magnitude for a volcanic earthquake. So talagang may tumutulak pa rin na magma pataas," Bornas explained.
(The potential for an explosive eruption is based on our monitoring parameters. Mainly, earthquake activity is unceasing. We are recording continuous tremors and they are considerable in magniture for a volcanic earthquake. So there really is magma pushing upward.)
Bornas also pointed out that Taal's hazardous explosive eruption is still possible as its danger level is still at 4, a notch below the highest alert level of 5, which already indicates an ongoing eruption.
"Lagi pong nandyan ang chance na magkaroon ng malaking pagputok lalo na ngayon na sige-sige pa rin ang malalaking volcanic earthquakes," she said. (The chance for a big eruption is always there, especially now that the big volcanic earthquakes are continuous.)
Bornas cited the historical eruptions of Taal, where at least four were recorded to be disruptive, that killed thousands of people due to the hazards brought by its explosion.
"Kung titingan natin yung history, 50-50, kung titingnan natin yung monitoring record ngayon, malaki yung chance na magkaroon tayo ng explosive eruption," Bornas said. (If we look at history, 50-50, if we look at the monitoring record now, there’s a big chance that we’ll have an explosive eruption.)