Status of Gunung Agung Bali Still Watch Out

INDUSTRY.co.id - Karangasem - Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) states that the status of Gunung Agung in Karangasem, Bali, is still Warning or level IV because volcanic volcanic activity is still high despite seismic or seismic data decreases.

"If seismic is down momentarily, but other data does not support, it (status decrease, red.) Also cannot be done," said Head of PVMBG Kasbani at Gunung Agung Observation Post in Rendang Village, Karangasem Regency, Saturday (21/10/2017)

He explained the status of the volcano set through a comprehensive analysis of various methods, not only concluding one parameter but also covering seismic or earthquake, deformation or alteration of the mountain body, geochemistry or the presence of harmful gases, to remote sensing via satellite.

Kasbani explains the temporary drop in seismic activity is precisely to look out of the experience of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta that erupted in 2006 when the earthquake activity when it declined.

Similarly, Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra that erupted in 2013 when entering level III or when alert level.

In the last few days, PVMBG recorded a total of 3,142 meters of earthquake-like volcanic activity above sea level, showing fluctuations, even reaching 1,047 times and on Friday (20/10) the total number of earthquakes decreased to 379 times.

"Despite the decline, it is still relatively high," said Kasbani who was accompanied by Head of Volcano Mitigation Sector Gede Suantika and Head of Mega Monitoring Subdivision of Eastern Volcano PVMBG Devy Kamil Syahbana.

Kasbani said other data still show high volcanic activity that is still the same and consistent, both observed visually and instruments.

Visually, he added, there was a significant increase in the volcano's surface in the presence of a vaporous smoke-induced gust and an increasingly significant gas emission with an altitude of 100-500 meters above the peak.

In addition, continued Kasbani, from satellite results also seen high activity with the formation of new hot areas on the surface of the crater of the northeast and the middle of the crater.

The hot area undergoes a significant expansion in this Awas level period in the form of fractures spouting gas and smoke.

Satellite images also observe the presence of water that exits continuously on the surface of the crater indicating a hydrological disturbance in the body of the mountain due to the movement of much magma.

Kasbani also mentioned based on data from nine seismic stations around Mount Agung, which analyzed the fractures below the mountain indicate the existence of fluid movement path that has been formed.

Based on the instrumental analysis, there is a change in the shape of a mountain or deformation, indicating the same and consistent, i.e., a substantial downward pressure of magma.

The latest analysis results from inSAR satellite images confirm the results of GPS measurements and Tiltmeter indicating that the period September-October 2017 has occurred inflation or inflation in the peak area with an increase of six centimeters based on GPS station recordings in Pegubengan and Cegi.

"For the size of the mountain, this size is quite large," Kasbani said as quoted by Antara.

The results of the volcanic gas measurements at a distance of 12 and 3.5 kilometers from the peak is not detected any high solfatara or SO2 levels.

However, it does not indicate a low magmatic activity.

According Kasbani, the possibility of gas concentration is below the limit of the ability of the equipment to detect at that distance or interact and dissolve in water.