Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): lake temperature remains unchanged
Tue, 26 May 2020, 07:46
07:46 AM | BY: MARTIN
Ruapehu volcano today (image: GeoNet)
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions remains steady. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have increased.
It indicates that the underlying vent area is open to upflows of volcanic gases and hydrothermal fluids, and so is currently preventing the lake from cooling further. Other signs that point to an open vent status are visible upwellings and sulphur slicks on the lake surface. None of these observations are unusual for the volcano.
The volcanic tremor intensity is weak, as it has been during the past month.
The volcano is still a very active volcano with the potential of little or no warning.
Both the Volcanic Alert Level (level 1) and Aviation Code (Green) remain unchanged.
Source: GeoNet New Zealand volcano activity update 26 May 2020
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Previous news
Mon, 4 May 2020, 06:53
GeoNet reported that during February-April, Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) heated slowly to a peak temperature of 42ºC. Due to a heating-cooling cycle, there is a period of slow change before a cooling trend is clearly shown in the data. That trend is now confirmed with current temperatures close to 35ºC, with further slow cooling expected. Colour temperature is grey with a few surface slicks and no obvious upwelling. At that time the water level had dropped to about 30 cm below overflow but following this weekend's rain the lake is again overflowing into the upper Whangaehu River. ... Read all
Wed, 29 Apr 2020, 06:00
On 4 May GeoNet reported a cooling trend of the crater lake water at Ruapehu with a current temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. During February-April the water temperature had peaked at 42 degrees Celsius. The intensity of volcanic tremor had been weak during the past month after a peak in strength in early March; tremor had declined slowly almost in conjunction with the lake water cooling trend. ... Read all
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