MANILA, Philippines, July 3 ------ The Kanlaon Volcano released its second-highest emission of sulfur dioxide this year, the state seismology bureau said. “Volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas emission from the summit crater of Kanlaon based on campaign Flyspec measurements, averaged 5,083 tonnes/day. This is the second highest emission from the volcano recorded this year and the third since instrumental gas monitoring began,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its advisory.
Phivolcs added that since Mt. Kanlaon’s eruption on June 3, sulfur dioxide emissions have increased to more than 3,250 metric tons per day. “Kanlaon has been degassing increased concentrations of volcanic SO2 this year at an average rate of 1,273 tonnes/day prior to the 3 June 2024 eruption, but emission since then has been particularly elevated at a current average of 3,254 tonnes/day,” it explained.
The agency also said its observations point to magmatic processes under the volcano, which contribute to the unrest and the volcanic disturbances. “The overall monitoring parameters indicate that magmatic processes beneath the volcano may be driving current unrest, causing persistently high concentrations of volcanic gas emission, swelling of the edifice, and occasional volcanic earthquake activity,” Phivolcs added.
Currently, Kanlaon Volcano is under Alert Level 2, or a “moderate level of volcanic unrest,” Phivolcs said. Phivolcs has cautioned people not to enter the volcano’s four-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone, and to be prepared for possible ash fall and lahar flow events.
Source: inquirer.net
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