THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the smog observed in Metro Manila yesterday is not related to activities of Taal Volcano in Batangas.
Taal, at 7:21 a.m. yesterday, had a “minor” phreatic eruption, producing a 2,800-meter tall plume that drifted southwest, Phivolcs said in a statement yesterday morning.
“The volcanic smog observed today is primarily concentrated over the Taal Caldera region based on visual monitors,” Phivolcs said in a separate statement on the afternoon.
“The smog observed in Metro Manila may still be attributed to anthropogenic pollutants,” added Phivolcs.
Citing meteorological data from the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Phivolcs said the wind speed was “slow, thus decreasing the likelihood of volcanic gases reaching the metropolitan region.”
Taal Volcano has had a number of phreatic eruptions since April.
Phreatic eruptions are caused by interaction of water with hot volcanic materials like rocks and gasses.
Taal also had two phreatomagmatic eruptions — caused by the interaction of water with magma — on Wednesday and Saturday last week.
Phivolcs said it recorded one phreatic eruption on Wednesday, producing a 3,000-meter plume that drifted north northeast and northeast.
Two volcanic tremors were recorded also on Wednesday, added Phivolcs.
It said the volcano’s sulfur dioxide emission was measured at 2,256 tons.
The volcano remains under Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest).
