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

Wed, 13 Jan 2021, 06:00

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 13 January-19 January 2021 (Continuing Activity)

GeoNet reported that volcanic tremor at Ruapehu declined to low levels on 29 December 2020, and remained low; volcanic gas emissions returned to background levels by the next day. Water chemistry had only slightly changed compared to data collected a few weeks prior. Although the temperature of the crater lake water remained high (40 degrees Celsius), the period of heightened unrest was over; the Volcanic Alert Level was lowered to 1 and the Aviation Color Code was lowered to Green on 11 January. ... Read all

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

Wed, 23 Dec 2020, 06:00

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 23 December-29 December 2020 (New Activity / Unrest)

On 28 December GeoNet reported that during the previous week the temperature of Ruapehu's crater lake water slightly decreased from 43 to 41 degrees Celsius. Moderate-to-strong levels of volcanic tremor were recorded along with a small number of shallow volcanic earthquakes. The largest volcanic earthquake was an M 2.2 (on 26 December) which was uncommonly large, and combined with elevated tremor indicated ongoing unrest. ... 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, 16 Dec 2020, 06:00

Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 16 December-22 December 2020 (New Activity / Unrest)

GeoNet reported a warming trend of the crater lake water at Ruapehu, with a high temperature of 43 degrees Celsius. During an overflight to measure gas emissions the previous week, scientists observed that the lake was a uniform gray color (suggesting it is well mixed) and some water overflow at the lake's outlet. Gas output had increased in response to the heating cycle; the amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur gases (SO2 and H2S) in the plume were the largest measured in the past two decades. ... Read all

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

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