Yesterday's Big Picture gallery was of New Year's Celebrations around the world. Above,
Fireworks light the sky in front of Mayon Volcano during New Year's celebrations in Legazpi city, Albay province, south of Manila January 1, 2010. Mayon Volcano, known for its near-perfect cone shape in the coconut-growing central Bicol region, has been spewing ash and burning mud and rocks for more than two weeks. (REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)
According to a
Bulletin from Philvolcs (Phillipine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology)
posted at Eruptions,
The latest activity of Mayon still indicates that its overall state of unrest remains relatively high. However, this phase of unrest, characterized by moderate seismicity, high volcanic gas outputs and continuing glow of the summit are processes normally associated with very gradual return to the repose period. The volcanic system is expected to continue producing earthquakes and to vent a large amount of gases because fresh magma still resides along the whole length of the volcanic pipe and near the summit.
I'm sure it has been a damned nuisance- or worse- for those who have been forced to evacuate from areas in proximity to the mountain. Still, this isn't bad news; it suggests that the volcano may be returning to dormancy without a major eruption, and concomitant destruction of surrounding towns and agricultural land. Add in
the show, and that's not such a bad outcome, is it?
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