Jul 31 1997, 4:00 pm - Ruapehu Volcano

Following the period of enhanced tremor over the weekend (July 26 - 27) no further enhanced tremor has been recorded at Ruapehu until about 11:30 today (July 31). From 11:30 to 14:50 the signal level gradually increased to peak at a level about one and a half times the background level and has declined slightly since that time. This period of volcanic tremor is not as strong as that recorded on the weekend.

The probability of an eruption occurring at Ruapehu remains relatively high, while volcanic tremor is being recorded.

This level of activity is insufficient to justify a change in the alert level for the volcano, as an increase to Level 2 would require the actual onset of eruptive activity.

The Alert Level remains at 1.

B.J. Scott (for C.P. Wood)
Volcanology Section Leader