Video update #3 on recent activity at Mt Ruapehu
GNS Science Senior Volcanologist Geoff Kilgour gives an update on current volcanic activity at Mt Ruapehu, and what data the team are hoping to collect soon.
Ruapehu Volcanic Unrest Update #3 - 10 June 2022 transcript
Since mid-March, Ruapehu has been at Volcanic Alert Level 2. Which indicates moderate to heightened unrest.
We were recording strong volcanic tremor, high levels of gas emissions, and we saw the crater lake temperature peak at 41 degrees.
Since our last update four weeks ago, we've seen those tremor levels lower from the strong tremor that we were seeing previously. In addition, Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) temperature has come down now, to 28 degrees. So we currently consider the level of activity at Ruapehu to have decreased, consistent with moderate unrest, rather than the heightened unrest that we were seeing previously.
Gas emissions are one of the key things we study to determine how active a volcano is. So we're waiting for the weather to improve so we can undertake another gas measurement flight. That will help us get a much more complete picture of what the volcano is doing and we'll share that information with you as soon as we have it.
This unrest period has been going for three months, but we are now seeing a decline in some of the key indicators of activity at the volcano. However, there's still uncertainty around what could happen, and we continue to see elevated unrest at the volcano. Because of this, there's still a chance of an eruption at Ruapehu.
If one occurred, it would likely impact the crater basin and possibly generate volcanic mudflows, or lahars, in the Whangaehu River valley.
The chance of more, or larger eruptions remains very unlikely at this stage.
Ruapehu's Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2, moderate to heightened unrest.
We continue to monitor the volcano for any changes in activity and we'll provide information through our Volcanic Activity Bulletins on our GeoNet website.
The Department of Conservation continue to maintain a 2km exclusion zone around the summit. But this could change, so visit the DOC Tongariro Facebook page or their website for updates on this zone.
Ruapehu is an active volcano, and could erupt at any time, with little or no warning. NEMA's Get Ready website has information to help you be prepared for volcanic activity.