Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano
Aerial photo of Taal Volcano; North is on right-hand side of photo.
Elevation	400 m (1,312 ft)
Location
Location	Talisay and San Nicolas, Batangas, Luzon, Philippines
Coordinates	14°0′7″N 120°59′34″E / 14.00194°N 120.99278°E / 14.00194; 120.99278Coordinates: 14°0′7″N 120°59′34″E / 14.00194°N 120.99278°E / 14.00194; 120.99278
Geology
Type	complex volcano
Last eruption	1977
Climbing
Easiest route	Daang Kastila [Spanish Trail]

Map showing major volcanoes of the Philippines

Taal Volcano is a complex volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Historical eruptions are concentrated on Volcano Island, an island near the middle of Lake Taal. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera, which was formed by prehistoric very powerful eruptions. Viewed from Tagaytay Ridge, Taal Volcano and Lake presents one of the most picturesque and attractive views in the Philippines.^[1] It is located about 50 km (31 miles) south of the capital of the country, the city of Manila.

The volcano had several violent eruptions in the past causing loss of life in the island and the populated areas surrounding the lake, with the death toll estimated at around 5,000 to 6,000. Because of its proximity to populated areas and its eruptive history, the volcano was designated a Decade Volcano, worthy of close study to prevent future natural disasters. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific ring of fire.

An apology letter

Sorry, due to internet resource problem,we could not get any information for The Land Of Fire And Heaving Earth. We therefore further off made some changes to our travel plan. Our location is still in Phillippines be
the locations tat we are instead visiting a few more locations like for example, Taal Volcano, The Hibok-Hibok volcano and so on... sorry for any inconvinience cause.

More Infomation of Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay, in the Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.
Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetrically conical shape, Mayon forms the northern boundary of Legazpi City. Local folklore refers to the volcano as Bulkang Magayon (Filipino: 'Magayon Volcano'), after the legendary heroine Daragang Magayon (Bikol: 'Lady Beautiful').
Mayon Volcano
^{Mayon Volcano lies in the eastern portion of the province of Albay and is about 300 km. southeast of Manila. Well known for its beauty and near perfect cone, this active volcano is one of the tourist attractions of the country.
Mayon reaches up to around 2,462 m. above sea level and covers an area of 250 sq. km. Its base circumference is 62.8 km. encompassing the towns of Camalig, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo.
Mayon is classified as a stratovolcano or composite cone. It consists of deposits formed basically by four major types of volcanic activity: airfall deposition, pyroclastic flows, rain triggered debris flows and lava flows. Airfalls and pyroclastic flow deposits are composed of unconsolidated materials, varying in size from ash to ssmall boulders. These deposits result from the eruption of fragmented rocks from the crater and are transported downslope under the influence of gravity, explosion blast and the prevailing wind.
Considered as the most active volcano in the Philippines, Mayon Volcano has had at least 43 eruptions since 1616. Its most violent and devastating outburst occurred on February 1, 1814. Nearby towns of Camalig, Cagsawa and Budiao were severely damaged, half of Guinobatan was ruined and at least 1,200 people perished in this eruption.
The eruptions of Mayon are usually "Vulcanian" or explosive in nature. They are characterized by the emission of fine ash and ash-laden gases forming huge "cauliflower" clouds. The symmetry of the volcano indicates that the eruptions have always occured at the central vent and that these have never been violent enough to destroy Mayon's form.
Mayon, though sometimes destructive, is also productive. Its fertile slopes and surrounding plains, coupled by abundant rainfall through the year, have made Albay a rich agricultural region with the bulk of its population found in towns bordering the volcano such as Camalig, Guinobatan, Daraga, Legaspi, Sto. Domingo, Ligao and Malilipot. The region is suited for growing abaca and coconut, two of Bicol's major crops, as well as palay and vegetables.}

Mayon has the classic conical shape of a stratovolcano. It is the most active  volcano in the Philippines. Since 1616, Mayon has erupted 47 times. The beautifully symmetrical Mayon volcano, which rises to 2,460 meters above the Albay Gulf, is the Philippines' most active volcano. The structurally simple volcano has steep upper slopes that average 35-40 degrees and is capped by a small summit crater. The historical eruptions of this basaltic-andesitic volcano date back to 1616 and range from Strombolian to basaltic Plinian. Eruptions occur predominately from the central conduit and have also produced lava flows that travel far down the flanks. Pyroclastic flows and mudflows have commonly swept down many of the approximately 40 ravines that radiate from the summit and have often devastated populated lowland areas.

The most recent  eruption, in 1993, began unexpectedly with an explosion. The initial eruption  lasted only 30 minutes but it generated pyroclastic flows that killed 68 people  and prompted the evacuation of 60,000 others. This photo shows pyroclastic flows  descending Mayon on March 2, 1993. Photograph copyrighted and provided by Steve  O'Meara of Volcano Watch International.

Summit of Mayon  with a small ash plume. March 7, 1993. Photograph copyrighted and provided by  Steve O'Meara of Volcano Watch International.

Mythical  Origins of Mayon

But until today (2007) Mayon has changed its shape more and more.

NAME OF VOLCANO:                        MAYON

LOCATION:                                         Albay, 300 km southeast of Manila

                                                             (13°15.4'N, 123°41.1’E)

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Elevation:  2.46 km          

Base Diameter:  20 km

Base Circumference:  62.8 km (reckoned from 10-km radius) encompassing the towns of Camalig, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo                   

Area:  314.1 km² (estimated from 62.8 km base circumference)

Type of Volcano:  Stratovolcano                         

Adjacent Volcanic Edifice:  Mt. Malinao, Lignon Hill and Balong Gloria Hill

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES

Rock Type:  Basalt to Olivine-bearing Pyroxene Andesite         

Tectonic Setting:  Bicol Volcanic Chain

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

Number of Historical Eruptions:  48

Latest Eruption/Activity:

14 July 2006 (mild eruption – quiet effusion of lava) - on going

Eruption Type:

1. Strombolian  (e.g.. 1978, 1st phase of 1984 eruption)

2. Vulcanian  (e.g. 1st phase of 1968 eruption, 2nd phase of 1984 eruption)

3. Plinian  (e.g. 1814)

 Precursors to Eruptions:

1. Increase in seismicity level  (Background: 0-10 volcanic quakes per day)

2. Ground tilt due to magma intrusion.

3. Change in color of steam emission from white to gray due  to entrained ash

4.  Increase in the volume of steam emission

5.  Crater glow due to  presence of magma at or near the  crater.

6. Rumbling sounds due to gas explosions, wall fracturing, landslides

VOLCANIC HAZARDS

Type of Hazards:

1. Airfall tephra

2. Lava flows

3. Pyroclastic flows

4. Lahars

Permanent Danger Zone:  six (6) km radius from the summit

MONITORING ACTIVITY

Volcano Observatory:  Lignon Hill Observatory (LHO) - 12 km SSE of the summit   (123°43.56’ E, 13°09.64’N)

Monitoring Methods:

1. Seismic monitoring (number of volcanic quakes and tremors)

2. Ground deformation (precise leveling, electronic tilt, GPS)

3. Visual observations

4. Sulfur dioxide emission rate (by COSPEC)

5. Water well monitoring

Monitoring Stations

A - Seismic Network

·         Digital Permanent: Lignon Hill Observatory,  Upper Anoling,  Upper Sta. Misericordia and Mayon

                        Rest House with repeater sites at Mt. Bariw, Upper Sto. Domingo and Tabaco

·         Digital Mobile: Upper Mayon Rest House, Upper Masarawag and Lignon Hill Observatory with

                        repeater sites at Ligao and Camalig

·         Analog: Upper Anoling

B - Ground Deformation

·         Precise leveling lines:  Buang Junction to Mayon Rest House (20 benchmarks); Lidong (13

                          benchmarks) and Anoling

·         GPS stations: Legazpi (Lignon Hill), Sto. Domingo (San Andres), Malilipot (Calbayog),

                         Tabaco  (MRH), Malinao, Ligao (Nabonton) and Camalig (Upper Anoling, Tinago, and

                          Palanog)

·         Permanent Electronic tilt: Upper Anoling, Buang  and Mayon Rest House

·         Mobile electronic tilt: Upper Anoling, Lower Anoling and Upper MRHO

Recommende Websites : 
http://www.malapascua.de/Volcanoe-Map/Mayon__Philippines/hauptteil_mayon__philippines.htm
http://park.org/Philippines/pinatubo/page9.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayon_Volcano
http://volcano.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/update_VMEPD/Volcano/VolcanoList/mayon.htm

Information on Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano (Mount Mayon) is an active strato volcano found in Albay Bicol on the island of Luzon, Philippines. It has a perfect cone shape; It was named after a legendary folk Daragang magayon. It was among the 7 wonders of nature in the Philippines. Mayon Volcano reaches 2,460 meters and is the central feature of the Albay Province, of which Legazpi City is the capital, about 300-km southeast of Manila. It must be one of the most beautiful volcanic cones anywhere in the world and is visible for miles around in the otherwise flat landscape of the region. The volcano is still active and has erupted in 2000 and 2001. There is a research station (PHIVOLCS) located about one-third of the way up that is accessible by road and is the jump-off for climbers. Mayon Volcano is the Philippines’ most active volcano and is considered to be the world’s most perfectly formed volcano for its symmetrical cone. It is a basaltic-andesitic volcano. The upper slopes of the volcano are steep averaging 35-40 degrees and are capped by a small summit crater. Its sides are layers of lava and other volcanic material. It is located on the eastern side of Luzon, beside the Philippine Trench which is the convergent boundary where the Philippine Sea Plate is driven under the Philippine Mobile Belt. Where a continental plate or belt of continental fragments meets an oceanic plate, the lighter continental material overrides the oceanic plate, forcing it down into the Earth’s mantle. Magma may be forced through weaknesses in the continental crust caused by the collision of the tectonic plates. One such exit point is Mayon.

RECORDED ERUPT

• 2006 Eruption – Mayon erupted from July to October 2006, it has no loss of life recorded.
• 2008 Eruption – Mayon Erupted last August 10, 2008. A summit explosion ejected ash 200 meters above the summit, with the ash drifting east northeast.
• 2009-2010 Eruption – It was monitored from July 2009 to January 2010. Until January 13, 2010, it has reduced its hazards of eruption.

Recommended website: http://www.mayonvolcano.net/

http://www.google.com.sg/images?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=558&q=mayon+volcano&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=mayon+Volcan

More Photos of Mayon Volcano

 

Geography Project...

My group and I are planning the visit to be at Philippines. Philippines have lots of places of interest. We will be visiting two main locations. Mayon volcano and Land of fire and heaving earth. Here is some information.  

Mayon Volcano, the Philippines
Tens of thousands of people living within the danger zone of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines were forced to evacuate to emergency shelters in mid-December 2009 as small earthquakes, incandescent lava at the summit and minor ash falls suggested a major eruption was on the way. On the evening of Dec. 14, the local volcano observatory raised the alert level to Level 3, which means "magma is close to the crater and hazardous explosive eruption is imminent."

This natural-colour image of Mayon was captured on Dec. 15, 2009, by the Advanced Land Imager on NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. A small plume of ash and steam is blowing west from the summit. Dark-colour lava or debris flows from previous eruptions streak the flanks of the mountain. A ravine on the southeast slope is occupied by a particularly prominent lava or debris flow.

The Philippine Star said on Dec. 22 that "ash fall blanketed at least three towns in Albay, raising new health fears for thousands already bracing for an eruption that could come at any time ... Health officials warned the tiny particles could cause respiratory problems or skin diseases, and could affect the thousands of people crammed into evacuation centers.

Also on Dec. 22, CNN reported that "tens of thousands of people have already fled their homes. More than 9,000 families -- a total of 44,394 people -- are being housed in evacuation camps after authorities raised the alert status of the country's most active volcano" as "fountains of red-hot lava shot up from the intensifying Mayon volcano."

Recommended Websites:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1550.html

http://www.google.com.sg/images?um=1&hl=en&rlz=1R2SUNC_enSG393&biw=1259&bih=558&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=mayon+volcano&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=Mayon+



LAND OF FIRE AND HEAVING EARTH

Philippines' geological birth was accompanied by heaving earth as ground movements underneath induced volcanic processes and adjustments in the oceanic plates, causing the submergence and emergence of islands and the creation of mountains and trenches. Not all geological occurrences were dramatic though.Coral,which thrives well in warm Philippine waters, accumulated to form island foundations. Later when the glaciers advanced toward the polar caps pulling back the sea level, long submerged bridges that connect the archipelago to other islands and the main land Asia were exposed.

Credits:http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=6-BWFruOcDQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Lily+Rose+R.+Tope%22&hl=en&ei=dc58TZ7jCsHZrQf8goH-Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Done by: Xena Goh