Ruapehu Volcano running hot. Aviation Color Code Yellow, Alert Status remains at 1.

Just got this on rss feed and checked it out on Geonet.
Ruapehu is warming up and there is signs of elevated unrest.

I know New Zealanders are living every day with volcanic and tectonic threats but is this something we should be worrying about?

Needing some input here from the wonderful Kiwi fragile earth specialists please.

Mount Ruapehu is currently experiencing a sustained period of high water temperatures in the Crater Lake (currently about 38 - 39 °C). In recent weeks changes have also occurred in volcanic gas output, seismic activity and Crater Lake water chemistry. These changes show that Ruapehu is experiencing signs of elevated unrest above known background levels, hence the Aviation Colour Code is being raised to Yellow. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1 (signs of volcanic unrest). The current heating cycle of the Crater Lake, which started in October 2010, has continued. The temperature of the lake peaked at 41 °C on 1 March and is currently fluctuating around 38 - 39 °C. Since the lake was re-established in 2002, the highest recorded temperature was 42.5 °C in May 2003, and there have been eight heating cycles. The temperature of Crater Lake is a measure of the amount of volcanic heat coming from Ruapehu. During the current period of high lake temperatures there have also been changes in lake chemistry, increases in carbon dioxide gas emissions and minor increases in seismic activity beneath the volcano. These observations, particularly the seismic activity, have not been observed during previous periods of high lake temperature. These observations indicate that Ruapehu is experiencing a period of unrest above that which is typical. At times steam may be seen above Crater Lake and sediments on the lake floor may be disturbed by gas and heat flow causing the lake to change colour. However, there are currently no indications that an eruption is imminent. The elevated unrest is sufficient to raise the Aviation Colour Code to Yellow. This is used only by international aviation. The Volcanic Alert Level is at Level 1 and this already reflects the current state of unrest. GNS Science volcanologists continue to monitoring Ruapehu. Ruapehu remains an active volcano and future eruptions may occur with little or no warning.

Most Recent Eruption * When: September 25 2007 * Effects: This was an explosive eruption, lasting about 7 minutes. During the eruption explosions spread ash, rocks and water across the summit area, producing lahars in two valleys including one in the Whakapapa ski field. In contrast with the previous eruptions in 1996, there was no high ash plume to produce ash fallout over a wide area

Geonet

reply to post by zenius


thanks for the heads up zenius - seems like a lot of volcanoes are starting to rise from their slumber. as if 2011 hasn't already been eventful enough!

reply to post by galacticgirl


Judging from the past few eruptions, I don't know if it is something to be alarmed about, but perhaps something that people in NZ need to be aware of. I have friends travelling in the area at the moment and they had no idea so now they are aware they will take extra care.

reply to post by galacticgirl


Geez! And i thought waking up to NATO bombing a reactor and France blowing up the Ivory Coast was a "busy" day

Is it just me or does the planet seem to be going "to hell in a handbasket" ? so to speak

Originally posted by Nemain73
reply to post by galacticgirl

 

Geez! And i thought waking up to NATO bombing a reactor and France blowing up the Ivory Coast was a "busy" day

Is it just me or does the planet seem to be going "to hell in a handbasket" ? so to speak

It absolutely is.

The real question is: "Who's carrying the handbasket?"

i dont think New Zealands had a active or en erupting volcano in a while that i know of so this is very important news thank you for posting this in my watch thread as well .....

Yellowstone also had a 4.1 EQ on April 1st.....Which is quite big for that area over the past few years.... here's a video...

reply to post by restlessbrainsyndrome
Interesting that Yellowstone had a 4.1 on 4/1


Just thought I'd throw that out there,.
Gosh,.yet another volcano heating up?
Must be a coinkidink

Maybe the 2012 movie isn't a load of crap

2nd

Hey Zenius - thanks for the thread Just received the email from GNS about it... definitely one to watch, especially with friends who have left here (Christchurch NZ) to live in Auckland/North Island since the quakes... Ruapehu doesn't give off much warning...

S&F

Damn, i'm heading down there to do the tongaririo crossing!
It is a geology trip so maybe i'll get some first hand experience...

reply to post by Redevilfan09


No the movie definitely was a load of crap, but that is not to say that we are not experiencing some unhappy Mother Earth troubles, or may not be in store for more.

reply to post by MoorfNZ


In saying that do you mean that it could jump alert levels?
Has it ever had a high impact eruption?

reply to post by CelestialSon


I'm both jealous and worried for you at the same time.
I hope you report back after your trip to let us know of your experience while there.

Last eruption was in 2007, From what I read, it is part of a heating and cooling cycle they are trying to understand for Ruapehu, I ain't to worried about it to be honest.

Originally posted by lepracornman
Last eruption was in 2007, From what I read, it is part of a heating and cooling cycle they are trying to understand for Ruapehu, I ain't to worried about it to be honest.

Wasnt there one before that as well that was rather large (had a full plume and all), I was still living in Auckland then so id say at least 99 or early 00's?

I can on a good clear morning/evening see a good upper third of Ruapehu on the horizon especially when its got a good coating of snow and the suns on it. I dont remember seeing anything from it during the 07 eruption (wasnt that just a crater lake spill over creating a lahar? where the crater wall and ice fell away).

Personally Im not to worried either, unless it turns out to have be a big sudden one like its had in the long distant past. If anything it'll put on a nice show I can see from the backyard and ruin the ski season ... hopefully it doesnt shake up any of its sleeping neighboring buddies (given I live very close to Mount Pirongia which has had some small blow outs a few millions of years back and im sure a sizable rumble in Ruapehu could pop its cork a little along with other cones in the region)

Oddly ive had a few dreams of watching cracks spewing lava from under our house over the years down here, not that I put any stock in them... definitely something to keep an eye on though.

(damn I must be tired, I butchered that posts grammar, too tired to fix it also gotta sleep...)

Edit:- Opps just noticed the last qoute by the OP, wow the last proper eruption was 96?, that long ago, feels like it was only yesterday, heck I was still in High School...

Yeah seen quite a few micro size quakes under the Summit Plateau 1- 2 weeks ago.
They were spread out over that period though with no more than 3 or 4 per day, most days just one quake.
Didn't think much of it.

Originally posted by alysha.angel
i dont think New Zealands had a active or en erupting volcano in a while that i know of so this is very important news thank you for posting this in my watch thread as well .....

We have a few active volcanoes.

I posted this in the 'other' thread. sorry for missing this one.

Originally posted by aorAki
A notable lahar was the Tangiwai disaster in 1953: Tangiwai

I know one of the Geos who helped set up the present lahar monitoring system and it seems to be working well so far.

This is from the Ruapehu Ski Field Website (from GNS):

These observations indicate that Ruapehu is experiencing a period of unrest above that which
is typical. At times steam may be seen above Crater Lake and sediments on the lake floor may
be disturbed by gas and heat flow causing the lake to change colour. However, there are
currently no indications that an eruption is imminent.

Source

The last eruption was in 2007.

Despite the earthquakes (damn their destructive capacity and the associated social and economic costs) and volcanoes, I love living on these Shaky Isles. It's a consequence of straddling a plate boundary and makes for interesting, if somewhat unsettling, living conditions at times.

It is, however, a great country for Geologists to study.
It rocks my world!

reply to post by aorAki


Robin Marks posted a link in the volcano watch thread that stated that Grafton Volcano lies underneath Auckland. I don't think I'd want to live there.
So Ruapehu is a skiing destination? I suppose they shut down the lifts at a certain point?