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)

GeoNet reported that the activity at Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) is often dominated by a heating-cooling cycle. These cycles last weeks-to-months. After peaking in April at 42°C, the lake cooled to 35°C by early May. Recent monitoring indicates continuous gas flux which has kept the temperature around 35°C through May.
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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Information about: Ruapehu volcano

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Mon, 4 May 2020, 06:53

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): lake temperature is cooling again

Crater Lake at Ruapehu volcano (image: @geonet/twitter)

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

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 29 April-5 May 2020 (Continuing Activity)

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

Fri, 20 Mar 2020, 05:56

Mt Ruapehu (North Island, New Zealand):increasing crater lake temperature

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Tue, 3 Mar 2020, 08:17

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): increased seismic activity

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Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): lake temperature remains unchanged

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