Volcanic Alert Bulletins
Volcano Alert Bulletins (VABs) are New Zealand's official source of volcano status information including the current Volcanic Alert Level (VAL).
They are issued on an as needed basis summarising the volcano status and recent events.
They can indicate if activity is increasing, decreasing, or in a steady state. They may contain forecasts, highlight developing, or expected problems.
If you’d like to be notified as soon as we issue a new bulletin, our social media channels and the GeoNet app will keep you up-to-date.
Activity decreases at Mt Ruapehu. The Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to 1.
General activity at Mt Ruapehu has decreased over the past two weeks. Volcanic gas emissions are back to normal levels and volcanic tremor declined. While the crater lake temperature remains high, the period of moderate to heightened volcanic unrest has now ended. The Volcanic Alert Level at Mt Ruapehu is lowered to Level 1.
Small steam explosions recorded at Whakaari/White Island
A series of short-lived, low energy steam explosions occurred on 29 December 2020 at Whakaari / White Island over a period of ~ 30 mins. This small event consisted of at least 20 individual pulses and may have produced traces of ash locally in the steam plume for a few minutes. Since the event, activity has returned to low-level. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake temperature down to 41 ̊C but volcanic tremor still elevated
During the past week, the temperature of the crater lake (Te Wai ā-moe) at Mt Ruapehu has decreased from 43 to 41 °C. The level of volcanic tremor continues to be moderate to strong and a small number of shallow volcanic earthquakes have been recorded. While the crater lake may have stopped heating, volcanic activity at Mt Ruapehu remains elevated. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and the Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow.
Mt Ruapehu: Crater Lake heating to over 40°C
Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) continues heating and is now 43 °C. The heating has been accompanied by bursts of volcanic tremor and a marked increase in the amount of gas passing through the crater lake. The volcanic alert level has been raised to Level 2 and the Aviation Colour code changed to Yellow.
Ash emission has stopped at Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to Level 1.
Observations in the last week show that ash is no longer being emitted from Whakaari. Levels of gas emission have also decreased, and other monitoring indicators remain low. The Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to Level 1.
Ash emission has reduced at Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Camera images from Whakaari/White Island appear to show that ash is no longer present in the near-persistent steam and gas plume. The amounts of CO2 and SO2 gas remain elevated. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Ash emission continues at Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Observations made yesterday confirm that Whakaari/White Island continues to emit volcanic ash with the steam and gas plume. The amounts of CO2 and SO2 gas have decreased. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Minor ash emission at Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level raised to Level 2.
New observations show small amounts of volcanic ash being carried in the steam and gas plume at Whakaari/White Island and deposited on the island’s webcams. The Volcanic Alert Level is now raised to Level 2.
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.
Mt Ruapehu status update: Minor volcanic unrest continues while Crater Lake temperature is low. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
New observations from a Crater Lake visit along with results from recent gas measurement flights indicate volcanic activity at Ruapehu remains low. Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) cooled to ~12°C in late September and is currently around 15°C. Recent monitoring observations indicate volcanic gas is passing into the lake. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.