Mayon in the Philippines, taken in 2007
There has been a lot of waiting over the summer to see if Mayon in the Philippines was going to begin a new eruption sequence. This morning, the volcano had its first "eruption" since August 2008, producing a very small (~700 m / 2000 foot) ash-and-gas column that drifted to the southwest. PHIVOLCS reports that the plume had very minimal ash, but it is still worth noting. No new evacuations were called, but the 6-km "danger zone" and 7-8-km "extended danger zone" are still in effect.
Mayon is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, erupting every few years, typically in small VEI 0-1 explosive events - usually starting as phreatic (water-related) explosions. Some recent eruptions, most notably in 2006, produced lava flows and pyroclastic flows as well, while the 1984 eruption rated a VEI 3 with lava and pyroclastic flows along with generation of some lahars.
Physical Science
Environment
Comments (118)
One strange photo...can any of the meteorologists reading this explain the neckscarf of cloud around Mayon's cone? Probably an entirely simple explanation, but it doesn't half look odd
Posted by: mike don | September 15, 2009 12:19 PM