Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): new heating phase starts at the crater lake

Fri, 16 Jul 2021, 06:14

06:14 AM | BY: MARTIN

Ruapehu volcano today (image: GeoNet)

Typically, over periods of months, Ruapehu's crater lake (Te Wai ā-moe) experiences heating and cooling cycles. In late December 2020 the lake heated to around 43°C marking the high point of the previous cycle. Early 2021 the lake cooled through to February 2021, before starting to heat again in early March. A maximum of 41°C was reached on 12 April 2021. The lake then started to cool down to 20°C on 2 July. The lake temperature started to rise again last week and is currently 23°C.
While the lake was cooling (April-July) the modelled heat input into the lake was around 80-100 MW (megawatt). To heat the lake water temperature by 3°C modelling indicates that ~300-600 MW (megawatt) of heat is now entering the lake.
Two small earthquakes have been located, and higher level of volcanic tremor has accompanied the start of the increase in the lake temperature. The occurrence of tremor is quite typical of the start of such heating phase.
Routine monitoring at the volcano includes gas measurement flights and crater lake (Te Wai ā-moe) water samplings. The results from these visits and of continuous monitoring of volcanic earthquake activity, tremor levels, and crater lake (Te Wai ā-moe) temperature and water level indicate that key monitoring parameters remain within normal ranges. The lake is currently overflowing into the Whangaehu river.
The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remains at Green.
Source: GeoNet New Zealand volcano activity update 16 July 2021

All news about: Ruapehu volcano
Information about: Ruapehu volcano

Previous news

Tue, 8 Jun 2021, 20:09

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

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. ... 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

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

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

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Ruapehu volcano (North Island, New Zealand): new heating phase starts at the crater lake

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