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Picture of the Day for March 13, 2026
Activity at the volcano within the Philippines despatched lava and pyroclastic flows down the volcano’s flanks and precipitated evacuations in within sight communities.
Mar 13, 2026
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At any given moment, about 20 volcanoes on Earth are actively erupting. Generally among them is Mayon—primarily the most active volcano within the Philippines. The nearly about symmetrical stratovolcano, on Luzon Island shut to the Albay and Lagonoy gulfs, rises extra than 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea stage.
Historical data indicate Mayon has erupted 65 instances within the previous 5,000 years, with the latest episode foundation in January 2026. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) first reported increased rockfalls shut to the volcano’s summit and inflation of the mountain’s greater slopes. On January 6, the alert stage was increased to some on a 5-stage scale after lava started flowing from the crater and hot clouds of ash and particles known as pyroclastic flows (on the total identified as pyroclastic density currents) moved down one aspect of the mountain.
The volcano was restful puffing and lava flowing on February 26, when the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 obtained this rare, relatively sure image. The natural-color scene is overlaid with infrared observations to highlight the lava’s heat signature. On that day, PHIVOLCS reported volcanic earthquakes, rockfalls, and pyroclastic flows. The longest pyroclastic flow had traveled about 4 kilometers (3 miles) thru the Mi-isi Gully on the southeast flank.
The stage-three alert, which remained in status in March, precipitated evacuations within a 6-kilometer (4-mile) radius of the crater, displacing hundreds of households from communities at the side of Tabaco City, Malilpot, and Camalig. Previous pyroclastic flows gather proven extraordinarily negative, leading to extra than 1,000 deaths in 1814, at least 400 deaths in 1897, and 77 deaths in 1993. More than 73,000 folks were evacuated all the blueprint in which thru an eruption in 1984.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions all the blueprint in which thru the latest eruption gather averaged 2,466 tons per day, with a top of 6,569 metric tons measured on February 4, 2026. That is the ultimate SO2 emission stage for one day in 15 years, the PHIVOLCS announced in early February. That was later exceeded on March 6, when SO2 emissions reached as high as 7,633 metric tons.
More than one NASA satellites gather additionally monitored the volcano’s sulfur dioxide emissions, exhibiting monumental plumes of the fuel drifting southwest on February 4 and March 6. The Philippine volcanology institute reported a top in other exercise on February 8 and 9, with 469 rockfalls, 12 major pyroclastic flows, and ashfall within the municipalities of Camalig and Guinobatan.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, the expend of Landsat data from the U.S. Geological See. Narrative by Adam Voiland.
Downloads
February 26, 2026
- Chan, H. & Konstantinou, K. (2020) Multiscale and multitemporal surface temperature monitoring by satellite thermal infrared imagery at Mayon Volcano, Philippines. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Analysis, 401, 106976.
- Global Volcanism Program (2026) Mayon. Accessed March 12, 2026.
- GMA News On-line (2026, January 6) Six Albay cities evacuate residents amid Mayon Volcano Alert Level 3 status. Accessed March 12, 2026.
- NASA Earthdata (2023, January 25) Monitoring Volcanic Sulfur Dioxide Emissions. Accessed March 12, 2026.
- NASA Earth Observatory (2009, December 15) Mayon Volcano Threatens Primary Eruption. Accessed March 12, 2026.
- PHIVOLCS (2026, March 12) Latest volcano bulletins, advisories, updates & other issuances, or archived issuances. Accessed March 12, 2026.
- PHIVOLCS (2026, February 10) Mayon Volcano Eruption Update. Accessed March 12, 2026.
- Ruth, D.C.S. & Costa, F. (2021) A petrological and conceptual model of Mayon volcano (Philippines) as an illustration of an originate-vent volcano. Bulletin of Volcanology, 83(62).
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