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Report on Mayon (Philippines) — 17 December-23 December 2014


Mayon

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 December-23 December 2014
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2014. Report on Mayon (Philippines) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 17 December-23 December 2014. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (17 December-23 December 2014)

Mayon

Philippines

13.257°N, 123.685°E; summit elev. 2462 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


On 19 December PHIVOLCS reported that since the last seismic swarm detected at Mayon on 29 November a general decline in the overall activity was noted. Specifically, for the previous three weeks, seismic activity had declined to an average 2-3 mostly volcano-tectonic earthquakes daily, few low-frequency earthquakes were detected, and a few minor rockfall events occurred; deformation data did not indicate magma intrusion; sulfur dioxide emissions had declined on 2 October to below 500 tonnes/day which is the baseline value during periods of quiescence; no lava flows had been observed since 19 October. The Alert Level was lowered to 2 (on a 0-5 scale). PHIVOLCS reminded residents of the 6-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano.

Geological Summary. Symmetrical Mayon, which rises above the Albay Gulf NW of Legazpi City, is the most active volcano of the Philippines. The steep upper slopes are capped by a small summit crater. Recorded eruptions since 1616 CE range from Strombolian to basaltic Plinian, with cyclical activity beginning with basaltic eruptions, followed by longer periods of andesitic lava flows. Eruptions occur predominately from the central conduit and have also produced lava flows that travel far down the flanks. Pyroclastic density currents and mudflows have commonly swept down many of the approximately 40 ravines that radiate from the summit and have often damaged populated lowland areas. A violent eruption in 1814 killed more than 1,200 people and devastated several towns.

Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)