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Volcanic tremors continue to hit Mount Ruapehu despite a drop in temperatures in the crater lake, says GeoNet.
Photo: AFP / Stephane Godin / Biosphoto
Last week, the volcanic alert level was raised to two after a rise in temperatures at Carter Lake, and it remains at that level. The aviation color code is also still yellow.
While the temperature of Te Wai ā-moe has dropped from 43 ° C to 41 ° C, moderate to strong volcanic tremors and shallow earthquakes have been recorded during the last week.
In a statement, GNS said that a lake temperature spike of about 40 ° C to 46 ° C was common during warming-cooling cycles, with at least seven times the lake temperature exceeding 40 ° C since 2007. .
The largest recent earthquake was on December 26, with a magnitude of 2.2, just below the volcano.
GNS said volcanic earthquakes of this size were rare and, combined with the other ongoing factors, indicated moderate to intense volcanic disturbances.
“The volcanic alert level should not be used to forecast future activity, however, at volcanic alert level 2, eruptions are more likely.
“Volcanic Alert Level 2 indicates that the main hazards are those expected during volcanic disturbances: steam discharge, volcanic gas, earthquakes, landslides and hydrothermal activity.
“While volcanic alert level 2 is primarily associated with environmental hazards, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning.”
The research institute will attempt a gas flight to measure volcanic gas emissions this week and will sample the water in the crater lake for further chemical analysis.
He said this would help identify the processes that occur deep beneath the volcano.
