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

Wed, 23 Dec 2020, 06:00

06:00 AM | BY: VN

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.
The Volcanic Alert Level remained at 2 and the Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

Source: GeoNet
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2020. Report on Ruapehu. In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 23 December-29 December 2020. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

All news about: Ruapehu volcano
Information about: Ruapehu volcano

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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