Oct 9 1995, 4:00 pm - Ruapehu Volcano

Situation Summary

As of 16:00 the situation is as follows:

• The weather conditions today have prevented any observations of the volcano.

• Tremor levels have remained at levels similar to Sunday (see bulletin RUA-95/34). Betweeen 02:00 and 07:30 this morning a sequence of 16 small volcanic earthquakes was recorded, but we have no visual conformations of any eruptive activity associated with these earthquakes.

• The New Zealand Meteorological Service has advised that the wind direction will change from the present westerlies to southerlies and south-easterlies. Should further explosive eruptions occur under southerly wind conditions, ash fall is likely to occur on areas to the north of Ruapehu, including the Whakapapa areas, which haven't experienced any ash fall to date.

Conclusions and Alert Status

No substantial eruptions have occurred at Ruapehu during the last 48 hours (i.e. since the 15:03 event on Saturday October 7). The intensity of volcanic tremor indicates that the present eruption episode is continuing. The Alert Level remains at 3.

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