Mount Merapi Activity Dominated Gas Discharge

INDUSTRY.co.id - Yogyakarta - Center for Research and Development of Geological Geology Technology called volcanic activity of Mount Merapi located on the border of DIY and Central Java is still high with gas discharge dominated.

"Although no eruption occurred after May 24 at 10:48 pm, but based on observation data we received, it can be concluded that volcanic activity of Mount Merapi is still high," said Head of Mount Merapi Section of Geological Disease Investigation and Development Agency (BPPTKG) Agus Budi Santoso in Yogyakarta, Thursday (31/5/2018).

According to him, the dominance of the activity of gas release can be shown by the emergence of seismic multifase, eruption and high blow. Last Pascaletusan on May 24, multiply earthquake twice per day, falling seven times per day, gusts three times per day, tectonic and tectonic earthquake earthquakes each once per day.

Agus said, the high activity of release of gas in Mount Merapi can be caused by several factors, including a stopper at the top of the mountain has been open pasca-eruption on May 11.

"As an active volcano, Merapi produces gas continuously, because the top plug is already open, the gas is easily released into a gust," he said.

The activity, continued Agus, is different from the activity that occurred in Mount Merapi before the eruption in 2006 and 2010. At that time, the plug was strong enough so that the gas formed caused a strong pressure accumulation and directly caused the magmatic eruption.

In addition, he continued, the activity of gas release can also be caused by the movement of magma. "We will continue to monitor the signs of this magma movement," he said.

However, the moving magma is expected to be dilute and has little gas, so that if an eruption occurs it will be effusive.

"It could be that the effusive eruptions accumulate to form a lava dome or melt out because of the peak morphology that has been opened so that it cannot accommodate lava," he told Antara.

Based on the volcanic activity data of Merapi, BPPTKG still maintain the status of Mount Merapi at level II or alert.

"The activity is still being monitored, it can be reduced to normal or raised, there are criteria that must be met to change the status of Merapi," he said.