Whakaari/White Island: Background activity increases further
Volcanic unrest continues at Whakaari/White Island and some monitored parameters show further increases in activity. Hazards on the island are now greater than during the past few weeks, and the Volcanic Alert Level is raised to Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island: Background activity increases
Volcanic unrest continues at Whakaari/White Island and some monitored parameters show an increase in activity, with a level of uncertainty about what this means. Hazards on the island remain unchanged and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
National Geohazards Monitoring Centre – Behind the screens
In the first of our behind-the-scenes series looking at the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre in the lead up to its one-year anniversary in December, we get to know three of the Centre’s Geohazard Analysts.
Whakaari/White Island steam-driven activity increases
Small, muddy, geyser-like explosions are occurring in the active crater at Whakaari/White Island due to a rising crater lake drowning the active vents. This geysering poses no risk to visitors. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
What is a Volcanic Alert Level?
GeoNet keeps a close eye on all active volcanoes in New Zealand (and the Kermadecs). To help us do this we have the New Zealand Volcanic Alert Level System, which defines the current level of activity at each volcano.
Submarine eruption in Tonga gives us a chance to test our satellite analysis techniques
Submarine eruptions rarely happen close to New Zealand, so when the eruption happened off Tonga in August, GeoNet got a chance to test our satellite data analysis tools.
M5.2 earthquake at Lake Taupo
Earthquakes in the Taupo region are often associated with existing faults caused by the spreading of the Taupo Volcanic Zone due to large scale tectonic processes.
Mt Ruapehu crater lake (Te Wai ā-moe) is in a new heating cycle
The temperature of Mt Ruapehu’s summit lake Te Wai ā-moe is slowly rising, but no other changes in monitored parameters have been observed.
Strong Earthquake strikes South Island
The M5.5 earthquake occurred 15 km north of Milford Sound at 12km deep, 10:35pm on Monday 12th August 2019.
Earthquakes south of New Zealand
On 4 August 2019 two large earthquakes occurred south of New Zealand in the Snares Islands/Tini Heke.