What do you think of a giant sign that spells Batangas on the slope of Taal Volcano a la Hollywood in California?
Even I am not for it.
But I’ve learned not to quickly pass judgment on issues. At least, not until I’ve studied the rationale behind the entire scenario.
It is with interest that I followed this most recent controversy (very minor though) concerning Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and her governance.
First of all, it is about Vilma and what Pinoy is not interested in the Star For All Seasons? And then it also concerns a volcano and I’ve made it no secret that I am fascinated with these unpredictable creations of nature.
The Philippines is an archipelago dotted with volcanoes. But the two most famous will always be Taal and Mayon.
Mayon is majestic with its near-perfect cone. It is the most beautiful, the Shamcey Supsup of volcanoes.
But its beauty geologically speaking has no permanency. One day (it may or may not occur in our time), during a really violent eruption (heaven forbid!), its summit may just collapse. If that happens and hopefully it doesn’t there goes the pride of Bicolandia. A piece of me will die since I trace some roots to Sorsogon.
Too bad, Imelda Marcos is not in power anymore to have that rebuilt in the eventuality.
In the case of Taal, which has almost 50 cones and craters, that volcano island may change shape, as it had in past major eruptions, but that spot in the middle of the lake will always remain scenic.
Taal, the volcano and the lake, is full of mysteries. There was a theory in the past claiming that the Tagaytay Ridge is part of the volcano’s mouth and that the foot lies actually in Metro Manila. No one bothered to pursue that study anymore. But this only proves that there is so much more to learn about Taal.
That most photographed and postcard-pretty crater, called Binintiang Malaki, is actually dormant. That is where the huge Batangas sign patterned after the one on Hollywood Hills is supposed to be erected. Oops, let’s go back to that supposed to be part.
When I eventually checked on this matter and had it confirmed by no less than Gov. Vi, the very origins of this brouhaha that erupted more violently than Taal’s killer 1911 eruption turned out to be a mere spec of dust as tiny as one of those nestling on the volcano’s many slopes.
It was just a germ of an idea being tossed around that leaked out no thanks to an interview given by Batangas Vice Gov. Marc Leviste. How that came out of Leviste’s mouth is the latest addition to Taal Volcano’s numerous mysteries.
Well, in due fairness to the vice governor, he had enough gentlemanly manners to defend Gov. Vi and tried to make a clarification that she had nothing to do with the Inquirer interview he gave earlier about putting up that Batangas sign on Taal.
He had, in fact, apologized to the good governor, who unfairly got the brunt of public opinion, especially on the Internet, because well she is Vilma Santos. Understandably, she will always be an easy target since she is a famous movie actress.
So what is that Batangas sign issue all about? Gov. Vi in a private conversation confided to me that it was just part of a study. There was nothing concrete about it. And definitely, no budget yet, which will always be the go signal for every government project.
This was another classic case of so much ado about nothing.
Honestly, even I formed my own ideas in my head, but I did not immediately put this down to print for other people to read.
The controversy made me analyze the territorial issue between Batangas and Tagaytay City. Batangas owns Taal Volcano and the lake. However, it is Tagaytay that had always benefited from this panoramic view.
A tourist will always go to Tagaytay, which is more accessible and with cooler climes to boot for a better view of the volcano and the lake. That has generated so much income for Tagaytay not only in terms of tourism, but also in real estate.
It’s lonely at the top, but, hey what a view!
I can understand where the government of Batangas is coming from. The volcano belongs to them. When Taal goes on a temper tantrum that is going to be their problem. Think of disasters, evacuations, relief goods and all the possible danger to lives and properties.
And Tagaytay? The coffers of this city on a ridge will get fatter as tourists flock there to have a better and safer view of a restive Taal giving a spectacular show of fireworks.
While Batangas does the expensive and tedious mopping up operations in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption, Tagaytay will merrily be counting its income generated from tourism.
I can only hope no one ever suggests that a barrier this time a la Great Wall of China be built to block Taal’s view from Tagaytay!
The Batangueños actually have something to gripe about this geographical twist of nature. Who says that life is fair? Even topography plays favorites.
So what will the Batangas government do to further promote tourism in the province? Gov. Vi admits wanting to push Taal Volcano and the lake as a tourism project to be beneficial to her constituents. (There are ruins under its waters that could be developed into dive sites.)
Without necessarily being an ecological menace since the governor is basically an environmentalist what the Batangas government wants is to provide more jobs for Batangueños in that area.
In the process, boosting local tourism may also rid its famous lake of those fish pens. Yes, the very cause of that infamous fish kill that plagued the province not so long ago.
What swept over Batangas the past week was no fish kill, but an overkill of views and opinions regarding what is actually a non-issue.
It was a mere proposal that would have been shot in mid-air eventually after a series of serious discussion among the members of the provincial council.
In spite of the mountain of criticisms unfairly heaped her way, Vilma says that she is smiling her way through it all confident of the fact that in the hearts of the Batangueños, they are aware that their governor will always be after their best interests.
Reviewing her 14 years as a public official as a mayor first (of Lipa) and now as Batangas governor I am sure even those who ridiculed her for this “mere study” regarding Taal Volcano will agree that her record has yet to be tainted by talks of massive corruption and other charges being thrown at every other politician even in the barangay level.
And now that the air hopefully had been cleared, I can only pray that we all return to our normal activities, forget about this “mere suggestion” with regard to Taal Volcano, but in the process remember all the good deeds Gov. Vi had done for her beloved Batangas province.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
How the Taal brouhaha started
From PhilStar.com: How the Taal brouhaha started
Monday, October 24, 2011
Travel: Under the volcano for a red hot time
From The Province: Under the volcano for a red hot time
by Rick Cropp and Barbara Braidwood
Some of our best trips have been to visit volcanoes, the noisier and more flame-buoyant the better.
They are truly the greatest show in and on earth. But despite about 20 volcanoes erupting in the world right now, few guarantee to have a pulse by the time you arrive.
erupts sporadically but in an even more spectacular fashion. It is visible from dozens of villages all over the island. One of Rick's favourite photographs is of a gaggle of chatting teenagers in a piazza of a town, oblivious to the red hot show miles above and behind them in the dark.
Hawaii's Kilauea on the Big Island erupts almost continuously but much of it is underground. Helicopters can hover near the crater and over red hot skylights that pump heat into the cabin of the heaving chopper.
Other than a helicopter, driving the Chain of Craters Road is the other option. You can sit comfortably at the viewpoints or the more adventurous can hike in for a closer experience.
Don't miss entering a lava tube, cleared and lit just for you. Check www. nps.gov/havo/index.htm for closures and warnings before you go.
by Rick Cropp and Barbara Braidwood
Some of our best trips have been to visit volcanoes, the noisier and more flame-buoyant the better.
They are truly the greatest show in and on earth. But despite about 20 volcanoes erupting in the world right now, few guarantee to have a pulse by the time you arrive.
erupts sporadically but in an even more spectacular fashion. It is visible from dozens of villages all over the island. One of Rick's favourite photographs is of a gaggle of chatting teenagers in a piazza of a town, oblivious to the red hot show miles above and behind them in the dark.
Hawaii's Kilauea on the Big Island erupts almost continuously but much of it is underground. Helicopters can hover near the crater and over red hot skylights that pump heat into the cabin of the heaving chopper.
Other than a helicopter, driving the Chain of Craters Road is the other option. You can sit comfortably at the viewpoints or the more adventurous can hike in for a closer experience.
Don't miss entering a lava tube, cleared and lit just for you. Check www. nps.gov/havo/index.htm for closures and warnings before you go.
Scientists Observe Underwater Volcano Eruption
From Planet Save: Scientists Observe Underwater Volcano Eruption
Scientists who witnessed the eruption of a deep sea volcano during a 2009 expedition report that the volcano was taking place near a tear in the planetary crust that is mimicking the birth of a subduction zone.
A study of their findings was published in the journal Nature and depicts the collection of boninite, a comparatively rare and chemically distinct lava that has only been found in conjunction with the formation of our planet’s subduction zones – the process that takes place at the boundaries of tectonic plates whereby one slips under another – and only then, collected from long-dead volcanoes millions of years old.
According to Joseph Resing, an oceanographer from the University of Washington and lead author of the online article, nobody has ever collected fresh boninite and scientists have never had the opportunity to monitor its eruption either.
“Everything about the eruption itself – how fast, how intense, the ratio of lava to explosive fragments, the amount and composition of gas released – is new to us,” said co-author Kenneth Rubin, University of Hawaii geologist. “Plus, having a young, fresh occurrence of this very rare rock type to study gives us the opportunity to examine subtle chemical and mineralogical variations in a pristine specimen.”
Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/13Av9)
Scientists who witnessed the eruption of a deep sea volcano during a 2009 expedition report that the volcano was taking place near a tear in the planetary crust that is mimicking the birth of a subduction zone.
A study of their findings was published in the journal Nature and depicts the collection of boninite, a comparatively rare and chemically distinct lava that has only been found in conjunction with the formation of our planet’s subduction zones – the process that takes place at the boundaries of tectonic plates whereby one slips under another – and only then, collected from long-dead volcanoes millions of years old.
According to Joseph Resing, an oceanographer from the University of Washington and lead author of the online article, nobody has ever collected fresh boninite and scientists have never had the opportunity to monitor its eruption either.
“Everything about the eruption itself – how fast, how intense, the ratio of lava to explosive fragments, the amount and composition of gas released – is new to us,” said co-author Kenneth Rubin, University of Hawaii geologist. “Plus, having a young, fresh occurrence of this very rare rock type to study gives us the opportunity to examine subtle chemical and mineralogical variations in a pristine specimen.”
Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/13Av9)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Council launches volcano research center in Datun
From the Taipei Times: Council launches volcano research center in Datun
The National Science Council’s Taiwan Volcano Observatory Datun (TVO), an observation and research center to monitor volcanic activity at Datun Mountain (大屯山) in Taipei, was officially launched at the Jingshan Nature Center yesterday.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of the Interior Lin Tzu-ling (林慈玲) said that although geological research reports showed that the Datun volcano group had not erupted for a very long time, observations and analyses in the past decade have shown that they could be dormant active volcanoes.
The government therefore asked the council to set up the observatory to serve as a volcanic data integration platform, combining various pieces of information collected by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Central Geological Survey, the Central Weather Bureau, Academia Sinica and other academic units, she said.
Lin Cheng-horng (林正洪), director of the Taiwan Volcano Observatory project and a research fellow at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Earth Sciences, said that in the initial stage the observatory would monitor earthquakes, movements of the earth’s crust, earth temperature and fumarole images, as well as analyze geochemical aspects, including volcanic gas and water from hot springs.
The observatory can simulate the range of tephra — debris spewed out during a volcanic eruption — according to location and the direction of the wind during each season, he said.
Yang Tsan-yao (楊燦堯), a professor at National Taiwan University’s Department of Geosciences, said there are various levels of indicators for volcanic eruptions, such as changes in temperature, particles in water from hot springs and gas releases, that can be observed weeks or months before an eruption, as well as movement of the earth’s crust during the days before an eruption.
Lin said that Yang’s studies on helium isotopes in the fumarole and hot spring gases from the Datun volcano group indicated that 60 percent of the gas was derived from the earth’s core, suggesting that there may be a magma chamber under northern Taiwan.
They said evidence showed that the Datun volcano group probably last erupted between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago.
National Science Council Deputy Minister Chen Cheng-hong (陳正宏) said that while most people see volcanic eruptions as terrifying, they can also be objects of beauty, such as eruptions in Hawaii.
However, understanding the phenomenon before it occurs is important to avoid disaster.
Eruptions can be roughly predicted through an analysis of integrated data and can give enough of a warning so that precautionary actions can be taken, he said.
Six personnel will man the observatory on a daily basis and if they observe irregular patterns that indicate a possible eruption, a response task force would be assembled to assess the situation, Chen said.
Lin said they plan to add additional monitoring methods to improve the data, such as electromagnetic studies and satellite images.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Unmanned drones to explore mystery of volcano plumes
Alberto Font
Dr. Javier Bonatti explains how the AscTec Pelican helicopter works during a demonstration for reporters.
From the Tico TImes: Unmanned drones to explore mystery of volcano plumes
There are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying over Costa Rica. But these drones don’t drop bombs.
Researchers from the University of Costa Rica unveiled the two new aircraft on Monday. One, an airplane, is outfitted with high-tech tools to analyze the makeup of volcanic plumes that spew ash, rock and gas into the air. The other is a four-rotor helicopter that can be flown in and around volcanoes and areas struck by natural disasters to collect data.
Spewing volcano forces Spain to close island port
From the Sacramento Bee: Spewing volcano forces Spain to close island port
MADRID -- Spanish authorities say activity by an underwater volcano has led them to close access to a port on El Hierro island.
Ships have been ordered away from waters around La Restinga and aircraft have been banned from flying over the island's southern tip.
The port's 600 residents were evacuated Tuesday after volcanic activity began.
The regional government of the Canary Islands says scientists have detected airborne volcanic fragments called pyroclasts rising from the sea off La Restinga.
The government said it awaited scientific reports on the danger posed by pyroclasts, but a research vessel that was collecting samples there has been ordered to desist.
TV channel La Sexta reported Saturday that journalists also have been told to clear the area.
MADRID -- Spanish authorities say activity by an underwater volcano has led them to close access to a port on El Hierro island.
Ships have been ordered away from waters around La Restinga and aircraft have been banned from flying over the island's southern tip.
The port's 600 residents were evacuated Tuesday after volcanic activity began.
The regional government of the Canary Islands says scientists have detected airborne volcanic fragments called pyroclasts rising from the sea off La Restinga.
The government said it awaited scientific reports on the danger posed by pyroclasts, but a research vessel that was collecting samples there has been ordered to desist.
TV channel La Sexta reported Saturday that journalists also have been told to clear the area.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Iceland: Restless Katla Volcano Heightens Fears Of Possible Eruption
From Irish Weather ONline: Restless Katla Volcano Heightens Fears Of Possible Eruption
An increase overnight of seismic actvity in the vicinity of the Katla volcano in southern Iceland has heightened fears of a possible eruption.
Katla is located on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which is the southernmost glacier in Iceland and is almost 600 km2. It is situated to the north of Vík í Mýrdal and to the east of the smaller glacier Eyjafjallajökull, where an eruption in 2010 caused major disruptions to air traffic throughout western and northern Europe in April and May 2010. The caldera is 10 km (6 mi) diameter and is covered with 200–700 metres (660-2,300 ft) of ice.
Sixteen eruptions have been documented at Katla between 930 and 1918 at intervals of 40–80 years. It has not significantly erupted for 93 years, although there may have been small eruptions that did not break the ice cover in 1955 and 1999. The 1918 eruption resulted in extending the southern coast by 5 km due to laharic flood deposits.
In the early hours of today, 05 October, an intense swarm of earthquakes was registered in the Katla caldera; the largest of these earthquakes had a local magnitude of ~3.7. Most of the ongoing seismicity is sourced at shallow (< 5 km) depths.
Commenting before the latest (14-15 Oct., 2011) earthquake swarm, the IMO said there were no measurable signs that an eruption of Katla was imminent.
“However, given the heightened levels of seismicity”, the IMO added, “the situation might change abruptly. Monitoring teams at IMO are following the ongoing activity closely, and sensor-based networks around the volcano ensure that all seismological, geodetic, and hydrological changes are detected.”
“It is definitely showing signs of restlessness,” commented Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland.
According to Jón Frímann, the author of the popular Icelandic volcano and earthquake website: “Earthquake activity continues in Katla volcano as before. Most of the earthquakes are as before just small ones. Currently the earthquakes do not appear to be from dike intrusion as happened last week (5 October, 2011… After this large earthquake swarm, activity dropped considerably but it has been picking up again slowly during the week. But earthquake observation has been difficult due to frequent storms during the past two weeks that have been passing over Iceland.”
A glacial flood or jokulhlaup from the Katla volcano badly damaged a bridge leading to the closure of a busy road on Saturday, 09 July last. Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency (CPA) said flooding took place near the volcano, most likely caused by the melting of its ice cap. An aerial observation of the Mýrdalsjökull at the time reported cracks in two calderas in the southernmost part of the glacier.
In recent weeks residents of Vik (population 300 approx.), located at the foot of Katla, have participated in emergency evacuation drills in the event of a volcanic eruption and subsequent glacial floods affecting the small coastal town.
Meanwhile, an earthquake swarm has also been detected at the Askja volcano, which is situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland.
Experts say an eruption is not imminent but that pressure is continuing to build beneath the volcano. Askja was virtually unknown until the tremendous eruption which started on March 29, 1875. It last erupted in 1961.
The most significant, recent earthquake (3.9 magnitude) to hit Iceland occurred at 01:16 AM on Sunday 16 October. The epicentre was located 37 km S Grindavík; 67 km SW Hafnarfjörður; and 75 km SW Reykjavík
Earthquake Swarms
Earthquake swarms are events where a local area experiences sequences of many earthquakes striking in a relatively short period of time. The length of time used to define the swarm itself varies, but the United States Geological Survey (USGS) points out that an event may last for days, weeks, or months.
Harmonic Tremors
Harmonic tremor describes a long-duration release of seismic energy, with distinct spectral (harmonic) lines, that often precedes or accompanies a volcanic eruption. More generally, a volcanic tremor is a sustained signal that may or may not possess these harmonic spectral features.
An increase overnight of seismic actvity in the vicinity of the Katla volcano in southern Iceland has heightened fears of a possible eruption.
Katla is located on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which is the southernmost glacier in Iceland and is almost 600 km2. It is situated to the north of Vík í Mýrdal and to the east of the smaller glacier Eyjafjallajökull, where an eruption in 2010 caused major disruptions to air traffic throughout western and northern Europe in April and May 2010. The caldera is 10 km (6 mi) diameter and is covered with 200–700 metres (660-2,300 ft) of ice.
Sixteen eruptions have been documented at Katla between 930 and 1918 at intervals of 40–80 years. It has not significantly erupted for 93 years, although there may have been small eruptions that did not break the ice cover in 1955 and 1999. The 1918 eruption resulted in extending the southern coast by 5 km due to laharic flood deposits.
In the early hours of today, 05 October, an intense swarm of earthquakes was registered in the Katla caldera; the largest of these earthquakes had a local magnitude of ~3.7. Most of the ongoing seismicity is sourced at shallow (< 5 km) depths.
Commenting before the latest (14-15 Oct., 2011) earthquake swarm, the IMO said there were no measurable signs that an eruption of Katla was imminent.
“However, given the heightened levels of seismicity”, the IMO added, “the situation might change abruptly. Monitoring teams at IMO are following the ongoing activity closely, and sensor-based networks around the volcano ensure that all seismological, geodetic, and hydrological changes are detected.”
“It is definitely showing signs of restlessness,” commented Pall Einarsson, a professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland.
According to Jón Frímann, the author of the popular Icelandic volcano and earthquake website: “Earthquake activity continues in Katla volcano as before. Most of the earthquakes are as before just small ones. Currently the earthquakes do not appear to be from dike intrusion as happened last week (5 October, 2011… After this large earthquake swarm, activity dropped considerably but it has been picking up again slowly during the week. But earthquake observation has been difficult due to frequent storms during the past two weeks that have been passing over Iceland.”
A glacial flood or jokulhlaup from the Katla volcano badly damaged a bridge leading to the closure of a busy road on Saturday, 09 July last. Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency (CPA) said flooding took place near the volcano, most likely caused by the melting of its ice cap. An aerial observation of the Mýrdalsjökull at the time reported cracks in two calderas in the southernmost part of the glacier.
In recent weeks residents of Vik (population 300 approx.), located at the foot of Katla, have participated in emergency evacuation drills in the event of a volcanic eruption and subsequent glacial floods affecting the small coastal town.
Meanwhile, an earthquake swarm has also been detected at the Askja volcano, which is situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland.
Experts say an eruption is not imminent but that pressure is continuing to build beneath the volcano. Askja was virtually unknown until the tremendous eruption which started on March 29, 1875. It last erupted in 1961.
The most significant, recent earthquake (3.9 magnitude) to hit Iceland occurred at 01:16 AM on Sunday 16 October. The epicentre was located 37 km S Grindavík; 67 km SW Hafnarfjörður; and 75 km SW Reykjavík
Earthquake Swarms
Earthquake swarms are events where a local area experiences sequences of many earthquakes striking in a relatively short period of time. The length of time used to define the swarm itself varies, but the United States Geological Survey (USGS) points out that an event may last for days, weeks, or months.
Harmonic Tremors
Harmonic tremor describes a long-duration release of seismic energy, with distinct spectral (harmonic) lines, that often precedes or accompanies a volcanic eruption. More generally, a volcanic tremor is a sustained signal that may or may not possess these harmonic spectral features.
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