Earth Watch Report - Volcanic Activity
| 17.11.2012 | Volcano Activity | New Zealand | Northland, [Mt Ruapehu Volcano] |  |
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Volcano Activity in New Zealand on Friday, 16 November, 2012 at 04:04 (04:04 AM) UTC.
| Description | |
| New Zealand authorities are urging climbers and hikers to stay away from the summit of Mt Ruapehu after warnings the volcano could erupt. A summit hazard zone - the area within two kilometres of the centre of Crater Lake - should be avoided, the Department of Conservation's Ruapehu area manager Jonathon Maxwell said on Friday. The warning did not affect nearby Mt Tongariro or the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing, but people should be aware of an increased possibility of lahars (mudflows containing volcanic matter) in streams on the Round the Ruapehu Mountain track. On Friday morning, GNS Science said pressure was building under Mt Ruapehu and there was an increased chance it will erupt. The aviation alert level around the central North Island has been raised to yellow - suggesting unrest above background levels - but the volcanic alert level remains unchanged at "signs of unrest". GNS Science volcanologist Steven Sherburn says the changes make scientists believe eruptions are more likely in the coming weeks to months. "We are monitoring Ruapehu closely, but it often does not give any immediate warning that it is going to erupt," he said. "We think that the temperature a few hundred metres beneath Crater Lake is about 800C, but the lake itself is only about 20C. "This suggests the vent is partly blocked which may be leading to a pressure build-up beneath Crater Lake. "A sudden release of the pressure may lead to an eruption." Since late October small earthquakes have recorded about five kilometres beneath Ruapehu's summit, but they may not be directly related to the high temperatures beneath Crater Lake. |
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Volcano Activity in New Zealand on Friday, 16 November, 2012 at 04:04 (04:04 AM) UTC.
| Updated: | Saturday, 17 November, 2012 at 12:01 UTC |
| Description | |
| New Zealand authorities are urging climbers and hikers to stay away from the summit of Mt Ruapehu after warnings the volcano could erupt. A summit hazard zone - the area within two kilometres of the centre of Crater Lake - should be avoided, the Department of Conservation's Ruapehu area manager Jonathon Maxwell said on Friday. The warning did not affect nearby Mt Tongariro or the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing, but people should be aware of an increased possibility of lahars (mudflows containing volcanic matter) in streams on the Round the Ruapehu Mountain track. On Friday morning, GNS Science said pressure was building under Mt Ruapehu and there was an increased chance it will erupt. The aviation alert level around the central North Island has been raised to yellow - suggesting unrest above background levels - but the volcanic alert level remains unchanged at "signs of unrest". GNS Science vulcanologist Steven Sherburn says the changes make scientists believe eruptions are more likely in the coming weeks to months. "We are monitoring Ruapehu closely, but it often does not give any immediate warning that it is going to erupt," he said. "We think that the temperature a few hundred metres beneath Crater Lake is about 800C, but the lake itself is only about 20C. "This suggests the vent is partly blocked which may be leading to a pressure build-up beneath Crater Lake. "A sudden release of the pressure may lead to an eruption." Since late October small earthquakes have recorded about five kilometres beneath Ruapehu's summit, but they may not be directly related to the high temperatures beneath Crater Lake. | |
Related articles
- New Zealand vulcanologists warned Friday that the central North Island mountain of Ruapehu was showing signs of an imminent eruption. (familysurvivalprotocol.com)
- Ruapehu eruption warning for climbers (bigpondnews.com)
- Pressure builds under Mt Ruapehu (bigpondnews.com)
- Ruapehu eruption 'more likely' to erupt (nzherald.co.nz)
- DoC warns people to stay away from Ruapehu summit (radionz.co.nz)
- NZ eruption warning for climbers (bigpondnews.com)
- Increased likelihood of eruption on Ruapehu (radionz.co.nz)
- Pressure builds under Mt Ruapehu (news.com.au)
- Mt Ruapehu activity not worrying lodge owner (radionz.co.nz)
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