Please share your thoughts on our recent Ruapehu activity update videos
Scientists raised the Volcanic Alert Level for Mt Ruapehu to Level 2 in March as the volcano entered a period of moderate to heightened unrest. In addition to regular Volcanic Activity Bulletins (VABs), we made a series of video updates and news stories to explain what our monitoring data was indicating.
Whakaari/White Island: Loss of near real-time monitoring. Minor volcanic unrest continues. Volcanic Alert Level remains Level 1
Near real-time monitoring of Whakaari has been lost with the failure of the last surviving seismometer and pressure sensor on the island. We continue to monitor via other, less-frequent methods. The Volcanic Alert Level for Whakaari/White Island remains at Level 1. The Aviation Colour Code also remains at Green.
Te Maari: Ten-year anniversary of the 2012 eruption(s)
On 6 August 2012, after a few weeks of volcanic unrest, the Upper Te Maari Crater at Tongariro burst into eruption. The eruption ejected blocks kilometres away and a debris flow occurred down a valley to the west, with minor ashfall occurring as far away as Hawkes Bay. It then erupted again on 21st November later that same year. This was the first eruptive activity since September 1899 from the Te Maari craters.
2022 Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay slow-slip activity
Two slow-motion earthquakes have been taking place so far in 2022 under the central and eastern North Island. These events are like earthquakes in slow motion, unfolding over weeks to months and cannot be felt by humans. Read on to find out more about these events.
Earthquake activity under Lake Taupō picks up. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 0
Since early May 2022, our earthquake monitoring network has recorded an increase in earthquake activity under Lake Taupō. While Lake Taupō sits above the Taupō volcano, the recent earthquakes are not considered to be an indicator that an eruption is on the way. This activity is similar to recent periods of elevated earthquakes activity and ground deformation measured in 2008-2009 and 2019. The Volcanic Alert Level for Taupō Volcanic Centre remains at Level 0.
A look back at the M7.8 Dusky Sound Earthquake with a newly available earthquake dataset.
A new scientific dataset for 2001-2011 recently released has enabled scientists to look back at previous events in more detail, improving the knowledge of local geology and helping understand how earthquake shaking travels through the ground. One such event is the 2009 M7.8 Dusky Sound earthquake.
The Aotearoa-New Zealand Earthquake Catalogue – A Potted History of Earthquake Location Meta-Data and Why It Matters
Welcome, haere mai to our second GeoNet Data Blog. Today we want to explain a bit about some meta-data in our earthquake catalogue, how it tracks the recent history of how earthquakes have been located in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and why this might be important for you to understand.
Video update #4 - Lowering the Alert Level at Mt Ruapehu
GNS Science Natural Hazards and Risks Theme Leader Gill Jolly gives an update on the recent decrease in Alert Level at Mt Ruapehu, and what future activity at the volcano might look like.
Level of unrest continues to decrease at Mt Ruapehu. The Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to 1.
New Crater Lake chemistry data, low volcanic tremor levels and a stable warm lake temperature indicate a decline in the level of volcanic unrest at Mt Ruapehu. In consequence of these, the Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to Level 1 and the Aviation Colour Code changes to Green.
Successful Raoul Island Visit
Raoul Island, home to our northernmost tsunami gauge site, recently had a visit from three staff in our Remote Infrastructure Management team. The team travelled to Raoul in June to repair a damaged coastal tsunami gauge and undertake some much-needed maintenance work.