Mt Ruapehu's volcanic alert level has been upgraded to two.
The crater lake continues to heat and is now 43C, accompanied by bursts of volcanic tremor and a marked increase in the amount of gas through the crater lake.
"The Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) temperature has been rising and is now 43ºC. During a gas flight last week, the lake was observed to be a uniform grey colour which shows it is well-mixed," says GNS Science Duty Volcanologist Mike Rosenberg.
"There is some flow over the outlet. The gas output through the crater lake has also increased markedly in response to this heating cycle."
As a result of the increased alert level, the Department of Conservation has closed an area around the Crater Lake to the public.
"Per DOC's volcanic risk management plan, this means the area within 2km of Te Wai ā-moe/Crater Lake is closed to the public and concessionaires due to increased risk of eruption," says a pos on the DOC (Tongariro) Facebook page.
"Mount Tongariro and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is not affected by increased volcanic unrest at Mount Ruapehu and remains open."
Image: DOC Tongariro Facebook.
The amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur gases (SO2 and H2S) in the plume are the largest measured in the past two decades, says Mike.
The continued flow of gases and hydrothermal fluids though the lake shows that the underlying vent area is open.
"Volcanic tremor is being produced as short-lived pulses that coincide with increased gas passing through the crater lake and its plumbing system.
Modelling of energy input into the lake has shown increase during the past month from around 200 MW to around 400 MW, says Mike.
"Since 2007, Crater Lake temperature has exceeded 40 °C a number of times, without leading to an eruption. However. the combination of the increased lake temperature, volcanic tremor and gas output have motivated the Alert Level change."
The Volcanic Alert Level has been raised to Level 2. The Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic activity.
Mt Ruapehu is an active volcano and has the potential to erupt with little or no warning when in a state of volcanic unrest.
Mike says the Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic unrest or activity and is not a forecast of future activity.
Volcanic Alert Level 2 indicates the primary hazards are those expected during volcanic unrest; steam discharge, volcanic gas, earthquakes, landslides and hydrothermal activity.
While Volcano Alert Level 2 is mostly associated with environmental hazards, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning.
2 comments
Let's get REAL !!
Posted on 21-12-2020 23:15 | By The Caveman
If that little hill goes POP, the little red ring with this article will be NOTHING! Living in Taupo will be a BIG problem !!
Whakaari
Posted on 22-12-2020 04:33 | By Dollie
Whakaari was level 2 on that fateful day. One of the guides mentioned it to a tourist that Level 3 is the highest .
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