Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): Crater Lake temperature down to 26°C

Tue, 8 Jun 2021, 20:09

20:09 PM | BY: MK

Ruapehu volcano’s Crater Lake (image: GeoNet)

The activity of the volcano continued at fluctuacting levels as in December last year the elevated volcanic activity was recorded, but this unrest decreased on 11 January 2021.
During this period, volcanologists conducted to monitor gas flights, Crater Lake water samplings and temperature, a seismic activity and indicate that key parameters remain at normal ranges.
The largest observed variation in activity over the past several months has been the crater lake temperature. It was over 43 °C in early January 2021 then cooled to around 30 °C in February-March, before reheating again to just over 40 °C in early April. Since then, it has cooled again to 26 °C in recent weeks.
To maintain the lake water temperature at around 40 °C our modelling indicates that ~400 MW (megawatt) of heat was entering the lake. The heat input is currently about 100 MW.
The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remains at Green.
Source: GeoNet New Zealand volcano activity update 8 June 2021

All news about: Ruapehu volcano
Information about: Ruapehu volcano

Previous news

Mon, 11 Jan 2021, 11:46

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): Volcanic Alert Level lowered to Level 1; activity has decreased

Aerial view of Crater Lake at Ruapehu volcano (image: GeoNet)

The activity of the volcano continues at fluctuating levels during the past few months and currently continues at low levels. ... Read all

Mon, 28 Dec 2020, 08:27

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

Satellite imagery of Ruapehu volcano (image: Sentinel 2)

GeoNet reported that the crater lake temperature has decreased since the last update. On 21 December the temperature reached a maximum of 43 °C that subsequently declined to approx. 41 °C. A lake temperature peak of approximately 40-46 °C is common during the heating-cooling cycles. The lake temperature exceeded 40 °C on at least 7 occasions since 2007. According to lake temperature decrease, estimated energy into the crater lake has decreased from 400 MW to 200 MW. ... Read all

Tue, 22 Dec 2020, 11:26

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): Volcanic Alert Level raised to Level 2; crater lake heating to over 40°C

GeoNet reported that 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. The gas output through the crater lake has also increased markedly in response to this heating cycle. The amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur gases (SO2 and H2S) in the plume are the largest measured in the past two decades. The continued flow of gases and hydrothermal fluids though the lake shows that the underlying vent area is open. ... Read all

Wed, 4 Nov 2020, 09:36

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

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. ... Read all

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

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Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): Crater Lake temperature down to 26°C

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