By PHL-Microsat

A series of volcanic activities that began on January 13, 2018 made Mayon Volcano a high-priority target for Diwata-1. Within two weeks of continuous volcanic activity, Mayon was successfully captured by the microsatellite’s Middle Field Camera (MFC) on January 30, 2018 at 12:47 PM

This includes portions of Albay, with the volcanic plumes coming from Mayon Volcano vividly depicted as a bright white streak near the center of the image. Wind simulations show that the wind direction in the area during the acquisition time was coming from the northeast. This coincides with the observed dispersion of plumes relative to the volcano. Other portions of the image appear whitish due to high cloud cover during the acquisition time.

According to the DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) a “lava-collapse fed Pyroclastic Density Current (PDC) event occurred on Miisi Gully, producing a 1250-meter high ash cloud that drifted southwest” at 11:51 AM on January 30. It was followed by two more PDC events on the Basud Gully, which continued until 12:09 PM and produced ash clouds that drifted southwest, with “low whitish to light-gray plumes” emitted continuously from the crater throughout the day. Diwata-1’s image above captured the aftermath at 12:47 PM.

Source: Phl-Microsat