Mt Ruapehu crater lake temperature is now rising; volcanic activity remains at low level.
Recent data and observations from Mt Ruapehu crater lake (Te Wai ā-moe) indicates that the lake temperature is now rising and currently around 22°C. Volcanic activity at Mt Ruapehu remains low and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
Typically, over periods of months Ruapehu’s Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) has heating and cooling cycles. In late September the lake had cooled to around 12 °C marking the low point of the cycle. Since mid-October the lake has been warming slowly and has now reached 22 °C. The lake is overflowing via the outlet. These are normal observations for the start of a heating cycle.
Chemical analysis of lake water collected on 9 October showed no significant changes in the makeup of the lake waters since the previous sample was collected on 9 August. The pH remains at 0.8, having ranged between 0.7 and 0.9 over the last 6 years. Other key chemical indicators such as the respective water concentrations in Mg (magnesium) and Cl (chloride) can be used to track whether the uprising fluids travel through new fractures or in the proximity of magma. These indicators have not varied significantly in the last 4-5 years. In other words, the lake water chemistry has largely remained chemically similar throughout this period.
Our interpretation of these observations is that the underlying vent areas are open to volcanic gases and geothermal fluids entering the lake and reacting with rock in the vents.
The intensity of volcanic tremor has remained weak over the past three months, and small earthquakes continue to be located in the vicinity of Mt Ruapehu.
None of these observations are unusual for Mt Ruapehu. All observations over the past months indicate that the volcano remains in a general state of minor unrest.
The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1. The Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic activity and is not a forecast of future activity. Mt Ruapehu is an active volcano and has the potential to erupt with little or no warning when in a state of volcanic unrest. There is no change in the Aviation Colour Code and it remains at Green.
GNS Science and the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre continue to closely monitor volcanic activity at Mt Ruapehu with the GeoNet network of seismic and acoustic sensors, GPS receivers, sensors in the lake and visits to the lake area, and flights to collect and analyse volcanic gases.
Brad Scott Duty Volcanologist
Media Contact: 021 574 541 or media@gns.cri.nz