Mayon In State of Unrest

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday said Mayon Volcano is already in a state of unrest, which may lead to ash explosions and "hazardous magmatic eruption."

The Phivolcs said in its 8 a.m. bulletin on Friday that it raised Alert Level 2 (moderate unrest) over Mayon Volcano because of an increase in the number of low frequency volcanic earthquakes, which indicates the movement of magma beneath the volcano edifice at shallow depth.

It added that the "glow at the summit crater has intensified" and has become visible without the aid of telescopes. It said the volcano's steam emission remains at moderate level.

Source of article.

More on Mayon.

LEGAZPI CITY - With the restiveness of Mayon Volcano, the city government of Tabaco has ordered the temporary closure of Mayon Planetarium and Science Park, situated inside the six-kilometer danger zone in Barangay Buang.

Mayon has had 47 eruptions in the last 400 years.

Mayon is an active stratovolcano. The current cone was formed through pyroclastic and lava flows from past eruptions. Mayon is the most active of the active volcanoes in the Philippines, having erupted over 47 times in the past 400 years.

Seems another eruption may be coming up shortly. This one has quite a history. Its also very photogenic.




This should be one to watch.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is the reporting agency with info on this.

Phivolcs Site

RELEASED: 10 July 2009; 8:00 AM

This is a notice for the raising of Mayon Volcano’s status from Alert Level 1 (low level unrest) to Alert Level 2 (moderate unrest).

Beginning June 2009 monitored parameters indicated an increase in the current activity of Mayon Volcano. The number of recorded low frequency volcanic earthquakes rose to a higher level signifying possible movement of magma beneath the volcano edifice at shallow depth. The present seismic count is at the same level when a phreatic explosion occurred last August 2008. Ground uplift of about one centimeter was measured by Precise Leveling Survey conducted last June 15-22, 2009 and the uplift was sustained during a re-survey yesterday, July 9, 2009. Glow at the summit crater has intensified and could now be observed at Lignon Hill Observatory without the aid of telescopes. Steam emission was at moderate level.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/6965dcda54bf.jpg[/atsimg]

[edit on 7/9/2009 by Blaine91555]

Correction -

this is apparently considered an extension of the 2006 eruption.

" VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

Number of Historical Eruptions: 48

Latest Eruption/Activity:

14 July 2006 (mild eruption – quiet effusion of lava) - on going"

...and its 48 eruptions.

[edit on 7/9/2009 by Blaine91555]

500 residents around Mayon face evacuation.

TABACO CITY – Close to 500 residents living within the six-kilometer danger zone here will be evacuated in temporary shelters after Alert Level 2 was raised Friday due to increased activity of Mayon Volcano, Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro said.

Lagman-Luistro will meet the members of the city disaster coordinating council Saturday to map out the city's preparedness in the wake of Mayon's restiveness.

With Alert Level 2, all human activity are prohibited within the danger zone.

What an amazing sight! It looks like the standard Volcano from any movie or cartoon.

Here is another shot




[edit on 7/10/09 by Cyprex]

reply to post by Cyprex


That is what got my attention and led me to the article. A perfect cone. A nasty one too from its history.

Updated report.

Beginning June 2009 monitored parameters indicated an increase in the current activity of Mayon Volcano. The number of recorded low frequency volcanic earthquakes rose to a higher level signifying possible movement of magma beneath the volcano edifice at shallow depth. The present seismic count is at the same level when a phreatic explosion occurred last August 2008. Ground uplift of about one centimeter was measured by Precise Leveling Survey conducted last June 15-22, 2009 and the uplift was sustained during a re-survey yesterday, July 9, 2009. Glow at the summit crater has intensified and could now be observed at Lignon Hill Observatory without the aid of telescopes. Steam emission was at moderate level.

Good thing this seems to be in an area with little population.

That area reminds me of Alaska in that there are many active Volcanoes it seems.

Phreatic Eruption

A phreatic eruption, also called a phreatic explosion or ultravulcanian eruption, occurs when rising magma makes contact with ground or surface water. The extreme temperature of the magma (anywhere from 600 °C to 1,170 °C (1110–2140 °F)) causes near-instantaneous evaporation to steam resulting in an explosion of steam, water, ash, rock, and volcanic bombs. At Mount St. Helens hundreds of steam explosions preceded a 1980 plinian eruption of the volcano. A less intense geothermal event may result in a mud volcano. In 1949, Thomas Jaggar described this type of activity as a steam-blast eruption.

An example photo of a similar eruption at St. Helens -

Hard-headed farmers at Mayon's evacuation zone.

LEGAZPI CITY—The provincial government of Albay will not force the evacuation of more than 6,000 people holed out at Mayon Volcano’s 6-kilometer permanent danger zone despite the raising of Alert Level 2.

This, despite the ban on any human activity in the area by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) starting on Thursday.

Early last week, the volcano showed intense crater glow and Phivolcs recorded hundreds of volcanic tremors, prompting it to declare Alert Level 2.

But Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said the provincial government would not enforce evacuation under Alert Level 2.

Mayon resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said Alert Level 2 was raised because the frequency of volcanic earthquakes has increased, indicating that the movement of lava below the surface may lead to ash explosions and the hazardous magmatic eruption.

Laguerta said the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone is supposed to be “no man’s land,” but residents in the area keep coming back after they had been relocated.

Lets hope this does lead to another bad Lahar as in past eruptions. This is not good.

Gov't readies Mayon evacuation crews...

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) activated on Monday its disaster management team in Albay province in anticipation of a major eruption of the Mayon volcano.

I'm keeping up with this because this has the potential to be a newsworthy eruption, or not.