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The 2020 eruption and the large lateral dike emplacement at Taal volcano, Philippines: Insights from radar satellite data
  • +3
  • Mary Grace Bato,
  • Paul R. Lundgren,
  • Virginie Pinel,
  • Renato U. Solidum Jr.,
  • Arturo Daag,
  • Mabelline Cahulogan
Mary Grace Bato
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Paul R. Lundgren
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
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Virginie Pinel
ISTerre- IRD- Université Savoie Mont-Blanc- CNRS, ISTerre- IRD- Université Savoie Mont-Blanc- CNRS
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Renato U. Solidum Jr.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)
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Arturo Daag
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
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Mabelline Cahulogan
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
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Abstract

On 12 January 2020, Taal volcano, Philippines, erupted after 43 years of repose, affecting more than 500,000 people. Using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data, we present the complete pre- to post-eruption analyses of the deformation of Taal. We find that: 1) prior to eruption, the volcano experienced long-term deflation followed by short-term inflation, reflecting the depressurization-pressurization of its ~5 km depth magma reservoir; 2) during the eruption, the magma reservoir lost a volume of 0.531 +/- 0.004 km^3 while a 0.643 +/- 0.001 km^3 lateral dike was emplaced; and 3) post-eruption analyses reveal that the magma reservoir started recovery approximately 3 weeks after the main eruptive phase. We propose a conceptual analysis explaining the eruption and address why, despite the large volume of magma emplaced, the dike remained at depth. We also report the unique and significant contribution of InSAR data during the peak of the crisis.
16 Apr 2021Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 48 issue 7. 10.1029/2021GL092803