LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 17 -- Mayon volcano continues to exhibit intense crater glow and is emitting fluctuating sulfur dioxide gas signs, that magma is developing and moving up to the volcano's vent.
This prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to request and install additional seismic equipment to closely monitor the restive behavior of the volcano.
Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, said the newly installed instruments at the upper slopes of the volcano at barangay Anoling and at the Mayon Resthouse in Tabaco City are two tilt meter.
Laguerta said they have requested the Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) for additional three sets of broadband seismograph equipment to be installed at the volcano's edifice to back up the existing units.
He said "the tilt meter can send us ground deformation data on an hourly bases."
He explained that the broadband seismographs are sensitive instruments that record earthquakes. It can also detect ground motion caused by fracturing or the movement of magma within the volcano, while the tilt meter instruments are devices used to detect direction of ground deformation.
The Phivolcs scientist said the volcano disgorged 973 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) Monday, a volume that is way above the normal level of 500 tons per day.
Laguerta, in explaining the implication of the high and low volume of gas emission rate, said "once the high volume of SO2 emission rate is sustained in days, it is an indication that the volcano's state of unrest may possibly lead to a full-blown eruption."
"So far the level of gas emitted is not yet indications for an eruptive stage, we are still closely monitoring these parameters," he said
Phivolcs noted that the high volume of SO2 emitted by Mt. Mayon on Monday was the second gas disgorged by the volcano after it spewed a 1,429 tons of gas last October, a record breaking manifestation since the volcano exhibited signs of restlessness in July.
Quakes and high level of sulfur dioxide disgorged by Mayon volcano were signs that it continues to be on heightened state of restiveness, the Phivolcs said.
Phivolcs scientists are continuously observing Mayon volcano's fluctuating seismic precursors such as quakes, gas emission and ground deformation as these are indication that the volcano's seismic activity may possibly lead to an explosive eruption.
The volcano crater glow has intensified further but remained at level II, while steam emission is at a moderate level.
Laguerta said the intensity of the crater glow will depend largely on the "hot gas" and the shallow magma the volcano is emitting.
Meanwhile, disaster authorities are strictly enforcing the "no entry" rule in designated danger zone areas surrounding the volcano.
Police and military personnel manning the 12 checkpoints along the danger zone at the volcano's down slope were directed to enforce the "no human activity" rule inside the designated danger zone areas, covering the towns of Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, including the cities of Ligao, Tabaco and this city. (PNA)