Major volcanic eruption feared in Philippines

[StarfarerBill]

Source: Associated Press

LEGAZPI, Philippines – The Philippines' most active volcano could have a huge eruption within days, officials warned Sunday after detecting a drastic surge in earthquakes and eerie rumbling sounds in surrounding foothills. Tens of thousands of villagers have been evacuated as a precaution.

Scientists raised the alert level for the Mayon volcano after 453 volcanic earthquakes were detected in a five-hour span Sunday, compared to just over 200 Saturday, said Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The five-step warning system was raised to level four, meaning a hazardous eruption "is possible within days." Level five is when a major eruption has begun.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091221/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_volcano

[Poll_Blind]

1. My god that country has taken a beating from nature, recently. Holy shit. n/t

PB

[cowcommander]

5. Fortunately there's enough time for evacuation

So hopefully it won't end up as badly as Mount Pinatubo did two decades ago.

[FarCenter]

2. A big volcanic eruption could cool the earths global temperatures by a couple of degrees

According to http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=local-nuclear-war a limited nuclear exhange using 100 Hiroshima size bombs would decrease temperatures several degrees.

The solution to global warming?

[jwirr]

3. Maybe the earth healing itself?

[Frisbee]

4. Today's GPS with Fareed Zakaria...

featured Nathan Myhrvold and was about exactly that (without the nukes). It was very interesting and worth looking for as a repeat or webast. It actually sounded more promising than trying to get India, China or the US to reduce emmissions.

[Posteritatis]

8. For a couple of years. (nt)

[Jophus]

6. Poor people.

It is always something terrible in their country. I don't know how they can stand it.

[DemoTex]

7. Key words for Bobby Jindal and his GOP:

LEGAZPI, Philippines – The Philippines' most active volcano could have a huge eruption within days, officials warned Sunday after detecting a drastic surge in earthquakes and eerie rumbling sounds in surrounding foothills. Tens of thousands of villagers have been evacuated as a precaution.

Scientists raised the alert level for the Mayon volcano after 453 volcanic earthquakes were detected in a five-hour span Sunday, compared to just over 200 Saturday, said Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The five-step warning system was raised to level four, meaning a hazardous eruption "is possible within days." Level five is when a major eruption has begun.





USGS volcanic monitoring equipment placed on top of the Oregon mountain where I spent last summer. Jindal, et. al., ridiculed such monitoring.

[appleannie1]

9. From the volcano monitoring system - latest warning

Mayon Volcano Bulletin 8
21 December 2009


7:00 AM


Mayon Volcano’s (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E) activity escalated during the past 24-hour observation period. Seismic activity dramatically increased in number and size. A total of 1,942 volcanic earthquakes was detected by the seismic network. Many of these volcanic earthquakes were recorded at maximum deflection and continually occurred beginning at 1221H yesterday. Harmonic tremors were also continuously recorded.


Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emission rate remained very high at 6,089 tonnes per day (t/d). Audible booming and rumbling sounds were first reported in the eastern flank of the volcano at about 1455H then occasionally occurred beginning 2200H last night. Intensified crater glow and rolling down of incandescent lava fragments from the crater was also persistent. Red hot lava also continuously flowed down along the Bonga-Buyuan, Miisi and Lidong gullies. Lava fountains rising approximately 200 meters above the crater were observed at 2007H, 2008H and 2018H. The lava front has now reached about 5 kilometers downslope from the summit along the Bonga-Buyuan gullies.


Alert Level 4 is hoisted over Mayon Volcano, meaning a hazardous eruption is possible within days. Thus, PHIVOLCS-DOST reiterates that the Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) from the summit of 8 km on the southern sector of the volcano and 7 km on the northern sector be strictly observed. Areas just outside of this EDZ should prepare for evacuation in the event hazardous explosive eruptions intensify. Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall. PHIVOLCS–DOST is closely monitoring Mayon Volcano’s activity and any new significant development will be immediately posted to all concerned.

[Morning Dew]

10. a pic from December 15th

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/slideshow?id=2206147

plus a volcanic slide show.

[DeSwiss]

11. Yep. That's for certain the weirdest volcano I've ever seen....