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Report on Bulusan (Philippines) — 18 October-24 October 2023


Bulusan

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 18 October-24 October 2023
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2023. Report on Bulusan (Philippines) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 18 October-24 October 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (18 October-24 October 2023)

Bulusan

Philippines

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

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


In a special advisory, PHIVOLCS reported that from 0500 on 14 October to 2100 on 22 October the seismic network at Bulusan recorded a total of 87 volcanic earthquakes. Out of those, 29 were volcano-tectonic events associated with rock fracturing, located at depths of 1-8 km beneath the S and W flanks of the volcano. Gas emissions from the summit crater were at weak-to-moderate levels; sulfur dioxide emissions averaged 241 tonnes per day on 19 October, near background levels. Ground deformation data from electronic tiltmeter stations continued to record inflation at the S flank since February 2023. The Alert Level remained at 0 (the lowest level on a scale of 0-5) and PHIVOLCS reminded the public not to enter the 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)