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Report on Bulusan (Philippines) — August 1988


Bulusan

Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, vol. 13, no. 8 (August 1988)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.

Bulusan (Philippines) Vigorous seismicity continues; inflation

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1988. Report on Bulusan (Philippines) (McClelland, L., ed.). Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, 13:8. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.SEAN198808-273010



Bulusan

Philippines

12.769°N, 124.056°E; summit elev. 1535 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


The high levels of seismicity that have persisted at Bulusan since April continued with seismic swarms on 22-23 June, 15-17 July, and 27-28 July. High-frequency tremor with a maximum double amplitude of 2.5 mm was recorded during the 27-28 July swarm. During an 8-day period from 16 to 23 August, 804 volcanic events were detected by the seismic network. Hypocenters followed a general NW-SE trend with average depths of 7 km. Small-amplitude (1.5-2.5 mm) events were also recorded on 6 days in August, most recently on the 22nd. Steam emission remained moderate to profuse, rising to about 150 m above the active vent. The latest EDM measurements, on 17 August, indicated an inflationary trend.

Further Reference. Bautista, L.P., 1988, The 1988 Bulusan Volcano Activity: PHIVOLCS Observer, v. 4, no. 1, p. 1, 3-4.

Geological Summary. Luzon's southernmost volcano, Bulusan, was constructed along the rim of the 11-km-diameter dacitic-to-rhyolitic Irosin caldera, which was formed about 36,000 years ago. It lies at the SE end of the Bicol volcanic arc occupying the peninsula of the same name that forms the elongated SE tip of Luzon. A broad, flat moat is located below the topographically prominent SW rim of Irosin caldera; the NE rim is buried by the andesitic complex. Bulusan is flanked by several other large intracaldera lava domes and cones, including the prominent Mount Jormajan lava dome on the SW flank and Sharp Peak to the NE. The summit is unvegetated and contains a 300-m-wide, 50-m-deep crater. Three small craters are located on the SE flank. Many moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the mid-19th century.

Information Contacts: PHIVOLCS.