A strong fumarolic activity continues at the volcano.
The local observatory PHIVOLCS recorded 23,576 tonnes/day! of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions yesterday. This data is the highest level recorded in Taal volcano ever since 5 July when the latest emissions record was reached.
In addition, a volcanic smog (so-called vog) in Taal caldera has been detected due to elevated fumarolic activity. Vog is a hazy mixture of SO2 gas and aerosols (tiny particles or droplets) which are primarily sulfuric acid and other sulfate (SO4) compounds. Aerosols are created when SO2 and other volcanic gases combine in the atmosphere and interact chemically with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight over minutes to days. The exact composition of vog depends on how much time the volcanic plume has had to react in the atmosphere. In areas far (tens to hundreds of km or miles) from active vents, aerosols are the main component of vog. Closer to the volcano, vog contains both aerosols and unreacted SO2 gas.
The fumarolic activity is accompanied by near-constant emissions of steam-laden plumes which reached approx. 9,800 ft (3,000 m) altitude and dispersed E-SE and W-SW.
The seismic network detected 12 two-to-five-minute tremors during t24 hours between 15-16 October. This indicates that magma is moving and accumulating underneath the surface and might cause new eruptions at any time.
Instruments continue to detect local ground deformation (inflation) since August, another tell-tale sign of an impending eruption.
The alert level for the volcano remains at „yellow“.
Source: Phillippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology volcano activity update 16 October 2021