Nov 2 1995, 4.00 pm - Ruapehu Volcano

Situation Summary

As of 16:00, the following information is available:

• During the last 24 hours volcanic tremor has continued to be recorded by the Dome seismograph at Ruapehu. Tremor levels have declined relative to those recorded on November 1, but the base level remains at levels which are relatively high by comparison to pre-eruption levels.

• No observations of Ruapehu summit have been possible today due to bad weather, and we have received no aircraft reports of plume sightings. The aerial inspections planned for today are rescheduled for tomorrow.

• Of interest are preliminary autopsy findings from the Ministry of Agriculture on sheep which died in the Rangitaiki area. They have confirmed fluorine poisoning, with volcanic ash as the source. It is likely that recently reported deer deaths will be from a similar cause. This may need to be followed up on as ash has fallen over a wide area in the past five weeks.

• Field parties working near Tukino skifield in the Mangatoetoenui area have confirmed the origins of the secondary lahar in the Mangatoetoenui Stream which was reported in RUA-95/61

Conclusions and Alert Status

The present eruption episode is continuing with probable intermittent ash eruptions. We advise the Alert Level remains at 3. It is only 18 days since the last eruption that produced an ash column over 10 km high.

B.J. Scott (for C.J.N. Wilson)
Volcanology Programme Manager