The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Tuesday, June 22, launched a new volcano activity monitoring app called VolcanoPH Info. 

The app will provide real-time volcano advisories, with push notifications informing users of the latest on volcanic activity even before updates are posted on social media platforms. “The system will enable the user to see the updates first on the app after we have posted it to the DOST-Phivolcs website and have disseminated the information to the proper authorities,” said DOST undersecretary and Phivolcs officer-in-charge Renato Solidum Jr. 

App users will be able to see the alert levels of the active volcanoes in the Philippines, along with a 24-hour summary on its status, various monitoring parameters, and safety recommendations for people. Data will come from the Phivolcs’ Volcano Monitoring Network records and actual field survey data analyzed by experts.

Monitoring parameters viewable by the user include seismicity or the number of volcanic earthquakes monitored, acidity level and temperature of the main crater lake, the level of sulfur dioxide being spewed by the volcano, and volcanic plume level or the gas and particles produced by the volcano. 

Phivolcs also said that the app will also provide information on other potential dangers caused by volcanoes including ground deformation, and the sinking or swelling of the ground caused by gas, magma, or fluids moving underneath or fault motion. 

Antonia Bornas, head of the Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Predication Division of Phivolcs, also said that, in addition to Filipino, the team is planning to include local languages for warnings . The app is only currently available on Android but there are plans to build an iOS version as well. – Rappler.com