Jul 31 1996, 3:00 pm - Ruapehu Volcano

Seismic activity at Ruapehu has mostly continued at the relatively low levels seen over the last few days. The Dome record was very quiet to 20:00 last night, when intermittent tremor again increased to low/moderate level, before reverting to low levels at about 00:00. The increased tremor undoubtedly accompanied small ash eruptions, with ashfall reported at Whakapapa skifield from 21:00. This morning the summit and northern slopes of Ruapehu have a thin dark ash coating. A pilot report at 07:25 was of a low level plume containing some ash. An extensive (to the north-west) gas plume was visible from Taupo at about 10:00 this morning.

A COSPEC gas flight is planned for tomorrow.

The Alert Level remains at 3.

Ian Nairn
rostered Volcano Operations Manager