Latest news & updates from White Island

White Island volcano (New Zealand): year-long monitoring reveals declining vent temperatures

Over the last year, a series of thermal infrared images have been regularly collected by helicopter to observe the temperature of steam and gas vents as reported GNS volcanological observatory. Temperatures have shown a gradual decline since the December 2019 eruption, from over 700 °C in February 2020 to 300 °C on 21 January 2021. The gas emission temperatures are now similar to temperatures measured in July 2018.
During January 2021, GNS Science continued monitoring of Whakaari/White Island by observation flights and measurement of gas emission rates, and with automatic earthquake, camera and ground deformation observations. Recent observations confirmed no evidence of recent eruptive activity, or signs of collapse in or near the active vents. There is little water ponded on the floor of the 1978/90 Crater.
Volcanic steam and gas continue to be emitted from the active vents and lava extrusions in the area that erupted in December last year. The most recent observations are some of the lowest gas emissions measured since the 2019 eruption and are now close to those observed in early-2019.
The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remains at Green.
Source: GNS New Zealand volcano activity update 3 February 2021

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