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

Wed, 4 Nov 2020, 09:36

09:36 AM | BY: MARTIN

Ruapehu volcano today (image: GeoNet webcam)

GeoNet reported that the activity at Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) is characterized by a heating-cooling cycle. In late September the lake had cooled to around 12 °C marking the low point of the cycle. Since mid-October the lake has been warming slowly and has now reached 22 °C.
Chemical analysis of lake water collected on 9 October showed no significant changes in the makeup of the lake waters since the previous sample collected on 9 August. The pH remains at 0.8, having ranged between 0.7 and 0.9 over the last 6 years. Other key chemical indicators such as the respective water concentrations in Mg (magnesium) and Cl (chloride) can be used to track whether the uprising fluids travel through new fractures or in the proximity of magma.
These observations say that underlying vent areas are open to volcanic gases and geothermal fluids entering the lake and reacting with rock in the vents.
The level of volcanic tremor intensity has been variable but has remained weak during the past three months, and small earthquakes continue to be detected near the volcano.
Both the Volcanic Alert Level (level 1) and Aviation Code (Green) remain unchanged.
Source: GeoNet New Zealand volcano activity update 4 November 2020

All news about: Ruapehu volcano
Information about: Ruapehu volcano

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Thu, 22 Oct 2020, 07:54

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): gas flight observations; lake temperature is low

GeoNet observatory reported that the activity at Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) is often dominated by a heating-cooling cycle. In the most recent cycle, the lake temperature reached a high of 41°C in April and then cooled steadily to 12 °C by late September. Over the last two weeks, the lake has warmed slightly to 15 °C, which is a normal observation. ... Read all

Tue, 11 Aug 2020, 08:58

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): the lake temperature has decreased

GeoNet observatory reported that since April 2020, lake temperature has decreased from a high of 42°C to around 22-23 °C. This lower lake temperature is normal for Crater Lake. To keep the lake at this temperature, low-level heat must continue to flow into the lake. This indicates that the underlying vent area is open to volcanic gases and hydrothermal fluids. Other signs that point to this open vent are visible upwellings and sulphur slicks on the lake surface. ... Read all

Tue, 26 May 2020, 07:46

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

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. ... Read all

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

GNS Science Volcanologists have collected water samples from Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and the temperature of the lake is now 40°C. GeoNet believe the heating of the lake is the response to an input of hot gases and hydrothermal fluids in the wake of volcanic earthquakes beneath Mt Ruapehu in February. Prior to the earthquakes, the lake measured 24ºC. ... Read all

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

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