Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano (Filipino: Bulkang Taal) is a

complex volcano located on the island of
Luzon in the Philippines.[1] It is the second
most active volcano in the Philippines with
33 historical eruptions. All of these
eruptions are concentrated on Volcano
Island, an island near the middle of Taal
Lake. The lake partially fills Taal Caldera,
which was formed by prehistoric eruptions
between 140,000 and 5,380 BP.[2] Viewed
from the Tagaytay Ridge in Cavite, Taal
Volcano and Lake presents one of the
most picturesque and attractive views in
the Philippines.[3] It is located about 50
kilometres (31 miles) south of the capital
of the country, the city of Manila.
 Taal Volcano
Bulkang Taal

Aerial photo of Taal Volcano; North is on right-

hand side of photo.
Highest point
Elevation 311 m (1,020 ft) [1]
Coordinates 14°0′7″N 120°59′34″E 
Geography

Taal Volcano

Location in the
Philippines

Location Talisay and San Nicolas,

 Batangas, Luzon,
Philippines
Geology
Mountain type Complex volcano
Volcanic arc/belt Macolod Corridor
Last eruption October to November
1977
Climbing
Easiest route Daang Kastila (Spanish
Trail)

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. All volcanoes of the Philippines
are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Etymology
As of 1821, the Taal Volcano was also
called Bombou.[4]

Geography

Rainier Vesuvius
Avachinsky
EtnaSakurajima
Teide Santorini Unzen
Koryaksky
Colima Santa María Taal
Galeras
Mauna Loa Nyiragongo Merapi
Ulawun
Taal Volcano is one of the 16 Decade Volcanoes.

Taal Volcano and Lake are wholly located

in the province of Batangas. The northern
half of Volcano Island falls under the
jurisdiction of the lake shore town of
Talisay, and the southern half to San
Nicolas. The other communities that
encircle Taal Lake include the cities of
Tanauan and Lipa, and the municipalities
of Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, Santa
Teresita, Alitagtag, Cuenca, Balete and
Mataas na Kahoy.[5]

Permanent settlement on the island is

prohibited by the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology or
PHIVOLCS, declaring the whole Volcano
Island as a high-risk area and a Permanent
Danger Zone (PDZ).[6] Despite the
warnings, poor families have settled on the
island, risking their lives, earning a living by
fishing and farming crops from the rich
volcanic soil.[7][8][9][10]

Vulcan Point

The crater lake on Volcano Island is the

largest lake on an island in a lake on an
island in the world.[11] Moreover, this lake
contains Vulcan Point, a small rocky island
that projects from the surface of the crater
lake, which was the remnant of the old
crater floor that is now surrounded by the
2-kilometre (1.2 mi) wide lake, now
referred to as the Main Crater Lake. Vulcan
Point is often cited as the largest third-
order island (island in a lake on an island
in a lake on an island) in the world, though
this is also claimed to be an unnamed
Canadian island located within Victoria
Island.[12][13]

Therefore, Taal has an island within a lake,

that is on an island within a lake, that is on
an island within the sea: Vulcan Point
Island is within Main Crater Lake, which is
on Volcano Island, which is within Taal
Lake, which is on the main Philippine
Island Luzon, which is within the western
Pacific Ocean.

Recent activity

A solar-powered remote monitoring station located at

Taal Volcano island.

Taal Volcano is a complex volcano located on the

island of Luzon in the Philippines
island of Luzon in the Philippines.

Although the volcano has been quiet since

1977, it has shown signs of unrest since
1991, with strong seismic activity and
ground fracturing events, as well as the
formation of small mud pots and mud
geysers on parts of the island. The
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHIVOLCS) regularly issues
notices and warnings about current
activity at Taal, including ongoing seismic
unrest.[14]

2011
From April 9 to July 5,[15] Alert Level on
Taal Volcano was raised from 1 to 2 for
eleven weeks because of increased
seismicity on Volcano Island. Frequency
peaked to about 115 tremors on May 30
with maximum intensity at IV,
accompanied by rumbling sounds.
Magma was intruding towards the
surface, as indicated by continuing high
rates of CO2 emissions in the Main
Crater Lake and sustained seismic
activity. Field measurements on 24 May
2011 showed lake temperatures slightly
increased, pH values slightly more
acidic and water levels 4 cm higher. A
ground deformation survey conducted
 around the Volcano Island 26 April – 3
May 2011 showed that the volcano
edifice inflated slightly relative to the 05-
11 April 2011 survey.[16]

2010

June 8. PHIVOLCS raised the volcano

status to Alert Level 2[17] (scale is 0–5, 0
referring to No Alert status), which
indicates the volcano is undergoing
magmatic intrusion which could
eventually lead to an eruption.
PHIVOLCS reminds the general public
that the Main Crater remains off-limits
because hazardous steam-driven
explosions may occur, along with the
possible build-up of toxic gases. Areas
with hot ground and steam emission
such as portions of the Daang Kastila
Trail are considered hazardous.[18]
May 11–24. Crater lake temperature
increased by 2–3 °C (3.6–5.4 °F). The
composition of Main Crater Lake water
has shown above normal values of
Mg/Cl, SO4/Cl and Total Dissolved
Solids. There has been ground steaming
accompanied by hissing sounds on the
northern and northeast sides of the
main crater.
April 26. Volcanic seismicity had
increased.
2009

July 20. National Disaster Coordinating

Council (NDCC) executive officer Glenn
Rabonza warned that although there
were no volcanic quakes detected at
Taal since the detection of nine volcanic
quakes from June 13 to July 19, and
there had been no steaming activity
monitored since last recorded on June
23, PHIVOLCS Alert stands at Level 1,
warning that Taal's main crater is off-
limits to the public because steam
explosions may occur or high
concentrations of toxic gases may
accumulate.
Taal Volcano provides a picturesque view from
Tagaytay.

2008

August 28. PHIVOLCS notified the public

and concerned authorities that the Taal
seismic network recorded ten (10)
volcanic earthquakes from 5:30 AM to 3
PM. Two (2) of these quakes that
occurred at 12:33 and 12:46 PM, were
both felt at intensity II by residents at
barangay Pira-piraso. These quakes
 were accompanied by rumbling sounds.
The events were located northeast of
the volcano island near Daang Kastila
area with depths of approximately 0.6
kilometres (0.37 miles) (12:33 PM) and
0.8 kilometres (0.50 miles) (12:46
PM).[19]

Geological history
Taal Volcano is part of a chain of
volcanoes along the western side of the
edge of the island of Luzon, which were
formed by the subduction of the Eurasian
Plate underneath the Philippine Mobile
Belt. Taal Lake lies within a 25–30 km
(16–19 mi) caldera formed by explosive
eruptions between 140,000 and 5,380
BP.[2] Each of these eruptions created
extensive ignimbrite deposits, reaching as
far away as where Manila stands today.[20]

Since the formation of the caldera,

subsequent eruptions have created a
volcanic island within the caldera known
as Volcano Island. This 5-kilometre
(3.1 mi) island covers an area of about 23
square kilometres (8.9 sq mi) with the
center of the island occupied by the 2-
kilometre (1.2 mi) Main Crater with a
single crater lake formed from the 1911
eruption. The island consists of different
overlapping cones and craters of which
forty-seven have been identified. Twenty
six (26) of these are tuff cones, five are
cinder cones and four are maars.[21] With
its highest elevation at only 311 m
(1,020 ft), Taal is one of the lowest
volcanoes in the world.[1]

Eruption history
There have been 33 recorded eruptions at
Taal since 1572. The first eruption of
which there is any record occurred in 1572,
the year the Augustinian friars founded the
town of Taal on the shores of the lake (on
what is now San Nicolas, Batangas). In
1591, another mild eruption took place
featured by great masses of smoke
issuing forth from the crater. From 1605 to
1611, the volcano displayed such great
activity that Father Torna de Abreu had a
huge cross of anubing wood erected on
the brink of the crater.[22]

The dormant Binintiang Malaki (Big Leg) cone was the

center of the 1707 and 1715 eruptions

Between 1707 and 1731, the center of

activity shifted from the Main Crater to
other parts of Volcano Island. The
eruptions of 1707 and 1715 occurred in
Binitiang Malaki crater (the cinder cone
visible from Tagaytay City). Minor
eruptions also emanated from the
Binintiang Munti crater on the
westernmost tip of the island in 1709 and
1729. A more violent event happened on
September 24, 1716, when the whole
southeastern portion of the crater
(Calauit), opposite Mount Macolod, was
blown out. The 1731 eruption off Pira-
Piraso or eastern tip of the island created
an island.[23] No studies had been done to
determine whether Napayon or Bubuin
Island was formed in the eruption, or just a
pumice raft.

Activity returned to the Main Crater in

1749, and it was remembered for being
particularly violent (VEI = 4). Then came
the great 200-day eruption of 1754, the
greatest eruption of Taal which is
described below.[21][22]

Taal remained quiet for 54 years except for

a minor eruption in 1790. Not until March
1808 did another big eruption occur. While
this outbreak was not as violent as the one
in 1754, the immediate vicinity was
covered with ashes to a depth of 84
centimetres (33 in). It brought great
changes in the interior of the crater,
according to chroniclers of that time.
"Before, the bottom looked very deep and
seemed unfathomable, but at the bottom,
a liquid mass was seen in continual
ebullition. After the eruption, the crater had
widened and the pond within it had been
reduced to one-third and the rest of the
crater floor was higher and dry enough to
walk over it. The height of the crater walls
has diminished and near the center of the
new crater floor, a little hill that continually
emitted smoke. On its sides were several
wells, one of which was especially
remarkable for its size."[23]
On July 19, 1874, an eruption of gases and
ashes killed all the livestock on the island.
From November 12–15, 1878, ashes
ejected by the volcano covered the entire
island. Another eruption took place in 1904
as a result of which a new outlet was
formed in the southeastern wall of the
principal crater. The last eruption from the
Main Crater was in 1911 which obliterated
the crater floor creating the present lake.
In 1965, a huge explosion sliced off a huge
part of the island, moving activity to a new
eruption center, Mount Tabaro. Eruptions
have also been recorded in 1634, 1635,
1641, 1645, 1790, 1825, 1842, 1873, 1885,
1903, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976
and 1977.[21][24] Some of the major
eruptions are described below:

The 1754 eruption

Taal Volcano's greatest recorded eruption

occurred in 1754 which lasted from May
15 to December 1. The following is the
narrative account of Fr. Buencuchillo,
parish priest of Sala, and stationed at Taal
at that time:

On May 15, 1754, at about 9 or 10

o'clock in the night, the volcano quite
unexpectedly commenced to roar and
emit, sky-high, burning flames
intermixed with glowing rocks which,
falling back upon the island and rolling
down the slopes of the mountain,
created the impression of a large river
of fire. During the following days there
appeared in the lake a large quantity of
pumice stone which had been ejected
by the volcano. Part of these ejecta
had also reached the hamlet of
Bayuyungan and completely destroyed
it.
The volcano continued thus until June
2, during the night of which the
eruption reached such proportions that
the falling ejecta made the entire island
appear to be on fire, and it was even
feared that the catastrophe might
involve the shores of the lake. From the
said 2nd of June until September 25,
the volcano never ceased to eject fire
and mud of such bad character that the
best ink does not cause so black a
stain.
During the night of September 25, the
fire emitted was quite extraordinary
and accompanied by terrifying
rumblings. The strangest thing was,
that within the black column of smoke
issuing from the volcano ever since
June 2, there frequently formed
thunderstorms, and it happened that
the huge tempest cloud would scarcely
ever disappear during two months.
At daybreak of September 26 we found
ourselves forced to abandon our
dwelling for fear lest the roofs come
down upon us under the weight of
ashes and stones which had fallen
upon them during that hapless night. In
fact, some weaker buildings collapsed.
The depth of the layer of ashes and
stones exceeded two "cuartas" (45
centimeters), and the result was that
there was neither tree nor other plant
which it did not ruin or crush, giving to
the whole region an aspect as if a
devastating conflagration had swept
over it. After this the volcano calmed
down considerably, though not
sufficiently to offer any prospect of
tranquility.
During the night of November 1, Taal
resumed its former fury, ejecting fire,
rocks, sand, and mud in greater
quantities than ever before. On
November 15, it vomited enormous
boulders which rolling down the slopes
of the island, fell into the lake and
caused huge waves [note(added by
Saderra Maso): The waves mentioned
were most probably due to the
earthquake rather than to the falling
rocks]. The paroxysms were
accompanied by swaying motions of
the ground which caused all the
houses of the town to totter. We had
already abandoned our habitation and
were living in a tower which appeared
to offer greater security; but on this
occasion we resolved that the entire
population retire to the Sanctuary of
Casaysay, only the "Administrator" and
myself to remain on the spot.
At 7 in the evening of November 28
occurred a new paroxysm, during
which the volcano vomited forth such
masses of fire and ejecta that in my
opinion, all the material ejected during
so many months, if taken together,
would not equal the quantity which
issued at the time. The columns of fire
and smoke ascended higher than ever
before, increasing every moment in
volume, and setting fire to the whole
island, there being not the smallest
portion of the latter which was not
covered by the smoke and the glowing
rocks and ashes. All this was
accompanied by terrific lightning and
thunder above, and violent shocks of
earthquakes underneath. The cloud of
ejecta, carried on by the wind, extended
itself toward west and south with the
result that we saw already some
stones fall close to our shore. I,
therefore, shouted to all those who
were still in the town to take to flight
and we all ran off in a hurry; otherwise
we would have been engulfed on the
spot; as the waves of the angry lake
began already to flood the houses
nearest to the beach.
We left the town, fleeing this living
picture of Sodom, with incessant fear
lest the raging waters of the lake
overtake us, which were at the moment
invading the main part of the town,
sweeping away everything they
encountered. On the outskirts of the
town, I came upon a woman who was
so exhausted by her burden of two little
children and a bundle of clothing that
she could proceed no farther. Moved by
pity, I took one of the toddlers from her
and carried him, and the little indio who
has been wailing while in the arms of
his mother, stopped short when I took
him into mine and never uttered a
sound while I was carrying him a good
piece of the way.
Having reached a secure place on
elevated ground at a distance of about
half a league (2 kilometres or 1.2
miles) from the town, we halted in a hut
to rest a little and take some food.
From this spot the volcano could be
contemplated with a little more
serenity of mind. It still continued in full
fury, ejecting immense masses of
material. Now I also observed that the
earth was in continuous, swaying
motion, a fact which I had failed to
notice during the excitement and fear
of the flight.
Shortly afterward the volcano suddenly
subsided almost suddenly; its top was
clear and apparently calm. We,
therefore, returned on the following
day, the 29th, to the town with the
intention of surveying the havoc
wrought during the preceding night.
The 29th had dawned calm, but while
we were still trying to persuade
ourselves that the tragedy was over
and the volcano had exhausted its
bowels, at about 8 o'clock, we heard a
crash and then I noticed that smoke
was rising from the point of the island
that looks towards east. The smoke
spread very gradually as far as the
crater of the volcano, while there were
many whiffs issuing from points in the
direction of another headland. I
realized that the island had opened in
these places and fearing that, if a
crater should open below the water, an
explosion might follow, much more
formidable than the preceding ones, I
mounted a horse and retired
permanently to the Sanctuary of
Caysasay.
Between 3 and 4 o'clock in the
afternoon of the said 29th, it began to
rain mud and ashes at Caysasay (12
miles or 19 kilometres from the
volcano) and this rain lasted three
days. The most terrifying circumstance
was that the whole sky was shrouded
in such darkness that we could not
have seen the hand placed before the
face, had it not been for the sinister
glare of incessant lightnings. Nor could
we use artificial light as this was
extinguished by the wind and copious
ashes which penetrated everywhere. All
was horror those three days, which
appeared rather like murky nights and
we did not occupy ourselves with
anything but see to it that the natives
swept off the roofs the large quantities
of ashes and stones which kept on
accumulating upon them and
threatened to bring them down upon
us, burying us alive beneath their
weight. But fearing that even these
precautions might prove unavailing, we
3 Europeans – viz. Fr. Prior, the Alcalde,
and myself – the only ones who were
at the time in the Convento of
Caysasay, took refuge on the landing of
the stairs; as the safest place, and
awaited there whatever God might
dispose with regard to us. To all this
was added incessant thunder and
lightning, and it really looked as if the
world was going to pieces and its axis
had been displaced.
During the night of the 30th we had not
a moment of repose, as every moment
we heard the loud crush of houses
collapsing under of stones, mud, and
ashes piled upon them, and feared that
the turn of the convento and the
church of Casasay would come in next.
Shortly before daybreak of December 1
there was a tremendous crash as if the
house were coming down on our
heads: the roof of the apse of the
church had caved in! Not long
afterward, the roof of their kitchen gave
away with a thud. Both were tile roofs.
The first of December broke somewhat
clear and our eyes contemplated
everywhere ruins and destruction. The
layer of ashes and mud was more than
5 spans [1.10 m] thick, and it was
almost a miracle that the roof of the
church and convento sustained so
great a weight. We caused the bulk of
the material to be removed, while new
continued to fall on that day and the
following, on which latter the direction
of the wind changed, carrying the
ejecta toward Balayan. On the 3rd and
4th we had a formidable typhoon, and
thereafter the volcano quieted down.
Soon afterward I resolved to visit my
town of Taal; nothing was left of it
except the walls of the church and
convento. All the rest, the government
house, the walks of the rope factory,
the warehouse, everything was buried
beneath a layer of stones, mud, and
ashes more than 10 spans [2.20 m]
thick; only here and there could be seen
an upright post, the only remnant of a
comfortable dwelling. I went down to
the river and found it completely filled
up, with a boat belonging to the alcalde
and many of private persons buried in
the mud. After incredible efforts I
finally succeeded in unearthing in what
had once been the church and sacristy,
the chests which contained the sacred
vestments and vessels. Nearly all of
them were demolished by the rocks
and beams which had fallen upon
them, and filled with foul-smelling mud
that had ruined or disfigured their
contents. With the aid of some natives
of Bauang, I likewise recovered some
property from among the ruins of the
convento.
Twelve persons are known to have
perished – some carried away by the
waves of the lake, others crushed
beneath their collapsing houses. Thus
the beautiful town of Taal remains a
deserted wilderness and reduced to the
utmost misery, while once it was one of
the richest and most flourishing
places. In the villages to the west of
the lake, which were the greater and
better part, all the houses have either
collapsed under the load of material
which had been piled upon them or
have disappeared completely, swept
away by the waves which in these
places were so violent that they dug
three ditches or channels, too wide and
deep to be forded, and thus rendered
impassable the road which joins the
town with Balayan. In other parts of the
lake shore have likewise opened many
cracks and occurred very extensive
slides. The worst of all is, that, the
mouth of the river Pansipit having been
blocked, the lake is rising and invading
the towns of Lipa and Tanauan, both
being on the lowest level, and
inundating their buildings. All the
animals of whatever kind have
perished, some by being buried, others
by drowning, the rest by starving, as
not a green blade remained anywhere.
The same fate as Taal has befallen the
towns of Lipa, Tanauan, and so much
 of Sala as still existed. These towns,
together with Taal, lay around the lake,
being situated within easy reach of it,
and less than one league (12 miles or
19 kilometres) from the volcano. The
bulk of the population left this
neighborhood and settled in more
distant places. Thus out of 1200
taxpayers whom Taal contained
formerly, hardly 150 remain in the
poorest and least respectable villages,
which suffered little from the rain of
ashes.[23]

1911 eruption
Taal Volcano's crater before the 1911 eruption with the
central cone and one of the lakes on the crater floor.

One of the more devastating eruptions

occurred in January 1911. During the night
of the 27th of that month, the
seismographs at the Manila Observatory
commenced to register frequent
disturbances, which were at first of
insignificant importance, but increased
rapidly in frequency and intensity. The total
recorded shocks on that day numbered 26.
During the 28th there were recorded 217
distinct shocks, of which 135 were
microseismic, while 10 were quite severe.
The frequent and increasingly strong
earthquakes caused much alarm at
Manila, but the observatory staff was soon
able to locate their epicenter in the region
of Taal Volcano and assured the public
that Manila was in no danger, as Taal is
distant from it some 60 km (37 mi)
away.[25]

In Manila, in the early hours of 30 January

1911, people were awakened out of their
sleep by what they at first perceived as
loud thunder. The illusion was heightened
when great lightning streaks were seen to
illuminate the southern skies. Those who
investigated further, however, soon learned
the truth. A huge, fan-shaped cloud of
what looked like black smoke ascended to
great heights. It was crisscrossed with a
brilliant electrical display, which the people
of Manila perceived for lightning. This
cloud finally shot up in the air, spread, then
dissipated, and this marked the
culmination of the eruption, at about 2:30
a. m.[22]

On Volcano Island, the destruction was

complete. It seems that when the black,
fan-shaped cloud spread, it created a blast
downward that forced hot steam and
gases down the slopes of the crater,
accompanied by a shower of hot mud and
sand. Many trees had the bark shredded
and cut away from the surface by the hot
sand and mud blast that accompanied the
explosion and contributed so much to the
loss of life and destruction of property.
The fact that practically all the vegetation
was bent downward, away from the crater,
proved that there must have been a very
strong blast down the outside slopes of
the cone. Very little vegetation was
actually burned or even scorched.[22] Six
hours after the explosion, dust from the
crater was noticeable in Manila as it
settled on furniture and other polished
surfaces. The solid matter ejected had a
volume of between seventy million and
eighty million cubic metres (2.5 × 109 and
2.8 × 109 cubic feet) (VEI = 3.7). Ashes fell
over an area of 2,000 square kilometres
(770 square miles), although the area in
which actual destruction took place
measured only 230 square kilometres
(89 sq mi).[22] The detonation from the
explosion was heard over an area more
than 600 miles (970 km) in diameter.[25]

Death toll

The eruption claimed a reported 1,335

lives and injured 199; although it is known
that more perished than the official
records show. The seven barangays that
existed on the island previous to the
eruption were completely wiped out. Post
mortem examination of the victims
seemed to show that practically all had
died of scalding by hot steam or hot mud,
or both. The devastating effects of the
blast reached the west shore of the lake
where a number of villages were also
destroyed. Cattle to the number of 702
were killed and 543 nipa houses
destroyed. Crops suffered from the
deposit of ashes that fell to a depth of
almost half an inch in places near the
shore of the lake.
Main Crater with Vulcan Point Island in 2009

Observations on the Volcano

Island after the eruption

Volcano Island sank from three to ten feet

as a result of the eruption. It was also
found that the southern shore of Lake Taal
sank in elevation from the eruption. No
evidences of lava could be discovered
anywhere, nor have geologists been able
to trace any visible records of a lava flow
having occurred at any time on the
volcano back then. Another peculiarity of
the geologic aspects of Taal is the fact
that no sulphur has been found on the
volcano. The yellow deposits and
encrustations noticeable in the crater and
its vicinity are iron salts, according to
chemical analysis. Slight smell of sulfur
was perceptible at the volcano, which
came from the gases that escape from the
crater.[22]

Changes on the crater after the

eruption

Great changes took place in the crater

after the eruption. Before 1911, the crater
floor was higher than Taal lake and had
several separate openings in which were
lakes of different colors. There was a
green lake, a yellow lake, a red lake and
some holes filled with hot water from
which steam issued. Many places were
covered with a shaky crust of volcanic
material, full of crevices, which was
always hot and on which it was rather
dangerous to walk. Immediately after the
explosion, the vari-colored lakes had
disappeared and in their place was one
large lake, about ten feet below the level of
the lake surrounding the island. The crater
lake gradually rose until it is on a level with
the water in Taal Lake. Opinions after the
creation of the lake that the presence of
the water in the crater has a tendency to
cool off the material below and thus
lessen the chances of an explosion or
make the volcano extinct, but the
preponderance of expert opinion was
otherwise.[22](The subsequent eruption in
1965 and succeeding activities came from
a new eruptive center, Mount Tabaro.)

Ten years after the eruption, no changes in

the general outline of the island could be
discerned at a distance. On the island,
however, many changes were noted. The
vegetation had increased; great stretches
that were formerly barren and covered
with white ashes and cinders became
covered with vegetation.[22]
1965 to 1977 eruption

The most recent period of activity lasted

from 1965 to 1977 with the area of activity
concentrated in the vicinity of Mount
Tabaro. The 1965 eruption was classified
as phreatomagmatic,[21] generated by the
interaction of magma with the lake water
that produced the violent explosion that
cut an embayment on Volcano Island. The
eruption generated "cold" base surges[26]
which travelled several kilometers across
Lake Taal, devastating villages on the lake
shore and, killing about a hundred people.
That eruption, in particular, led to the
recognition of base surge[27] (one of the
American geologists who witnessed an
atomic bomb explosion as a soldier and
visited the volcano shortly after the 1965
eruption, compared it to an atomic base
surge) as a process in volcanic eruption,
which are now called pyroclastic surges
when relating to volcanoes.[28] The
population of the island was evacuated
only after the onset of the eruption.
Precursory signs were not interpreted
correctly until after the eruption.

Cinder cone and embayment created by the 1965

eruption.

After nine months of repose, Taal

reactivated on July 5, 1966 with another
phreatomagmatic eruption from Mount
Tabaro, followed by another similar
eruption on August 16, 1967. The
strombolian eruptions which started five
months after on January 31, 1968
produced the first historical lava
fountaining witnessed from Taal. Another
strombolian eruption followed a year later
on October 29, 1969. The massive flows
from the two eruptions eventually covered
the bay created by the 1965 eruption,
reaching the shore of Lake Taal. The last
major activities on the volcano were the
phreatic eruptions of 1976 and 1977.[21]

Eruption precursors at Taal

Increase in frequency of volcanic
quakes with occasional felt events
accompanied by rumbling sounds
On the Main Crater Lake, changes in the
water temperature, level, and bubbling or
boiling activity on the lake. Before the
1965 eruption began, the lake's
temperature rose to about 15 °C (27 °F)
degrees above normal.[29] However, on
some eruptions there is no reported
increase in the lake's temperature.
 Development of new or reactivation of
old thermal areas like fumaroles,
geysers or mudpots
Ground inflation or ground fissuring.
Increase in temperature of ground probe
holes on monitoring stations.
Strong sulfuric odor or irritating fumes
similar to rotten eggs.
Fish kills and drying up of vegetation.[2]

Other possible precursors

Volcanologists measuring the

concentration of radon gas in the soil on
Volcano island measured an anomalous
increase of the radon concentration by a
factor of six in October 1994. This
increase was followed 22 days later by the
magnitude 7.1 Mindoro earthquake on
November 15, centered about 50
kilometres (31 miles) south of Taal, off the
coast of Luzon.

A typhoon had passed through the area a

few days before the radon spike was
measured, but when Typhoon Angela, one
of the most powerful to strike the area in
ten years, crossed Luzon on almost the
same track a year later, no radon spike
was measured. Therefore, typhoons were
ruled out as the cause, and there is strong
evidence that the radon originated in the
stress accumulation preceding the
earthquake.[30]

See also
List of active volcanoes in the
Philippines
List of inactive volcanoes in the
Philippines
List of potentially active volcanoes in
the Philippines
List of protected areas of the Philippines

References
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Program. Smithsonian Institution.
 Retrieved 2013-02-13.
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original on 2008-09-12)
3. Herre, Albert W. (1927-12-14); "The
Fisheries of Lake Taal, Luzon and Lake
Naujan", Philippine Journal of Science,
Vol. 34, No. 3, pp.287–303, 1927
4. Roberts, Edmund (1837). Embassy to
the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China,
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Harper & Brothers. p. 60.
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 Web Site
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03-26
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Le Volcan Taal 13" , Panoramio,
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10. Anuar T (2010-03-15); "Photo – Buco,
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Elbruz. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
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BLOW your mind, but it will BEND it…" .
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15. "Taal Volcano Bulletin 09 April
20117:00 A.M." , PHIVOLCS, retrieved
on 2012-12-15
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Seismology (28 May 2011). "Taal
Volcano Bulletin" . PHIVOLCS Website.
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Technology. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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Jun 2010
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Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback
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2010-06-09
19. PHIVOLCS Taal Volcano Advisory, 28
Aug 2008
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Meertens, C.M.; Ramos, E.G. (2001).
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Philippines". Journal of Volcanology
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Bibcode:2001JVGR..105...35L .
doi:10.1016/S0377-0273(00)00238-9 .
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22. Lyons, Norbert (1922-09); "Taal, One of
the World's Great Volcanoes",
American Chamber of Commerce
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article incorporates text from this
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23. Knittel, Ulrich (March 18, 1999).
"History of Taal's activity to 1911 as
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Retrieved 2009-03-26.
24. Seach, John; Taal Volcano , Volcano
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25. Worcester, Dean C. (1912-04); "Taal
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26. Pyroclastic Flow and Pyroclastic
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 Freeman and Company, New York, NY,
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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media

related to:
Taal Volcano (category)

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Taal

Volcano.

"Taal Volcano" . Global Volcanism

Program. Smithsonian Institution.
Retrieved 2018-03-06.
 Taal Volcano Eruptions 1572–1911 from
RWTH Aachen University Web Site
Taal Volcano Eruptions 1600–2010 from
Google

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title=Taal_Volcano&oldid=906668884"

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