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Report on Bulusan (Philippines) — 5 October-11 October 2016


Bulusan

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 5 October-11 October 2016
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2016. Report on Bulusan (Philippines) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 5 October-11 October 2016. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (5 October-11 October 2016)

Bulusan

Philippines

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


On 5 October, PHIVOLCS reported that since the morning of 30 September a fissure on Bulusan's SE flank had been venting low steam plumes with minor amounts of ash. Also during this time a strong sulfur odor was noticed in barangay Mapaso, Irosin. A 15-minute-long, minor phreatic eruption was recorded by the seismic network on the morning of 6 October. Weather clouds prevented visual observations. Ashfall was reported in some areas of Gubat and rumbling was noted in barangay San Roque, Bulusan. The Alert Level remained at 1, indicating abnormal conditions and a 4-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

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.

Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)