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.
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.
Whakaari/White Island: Activity update. Minor volcanic unrest continues. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
New observations since July show continued but relatively low levels of volcanic activity at Whakaari/White Island. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
Mt Ruapehu: Activity and Crater Lake temperature update. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
New observations in July-August continue to indicate low levels of volcanic activity at Ruapehu. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1. Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) has cooled from a peak temperature of 42°C in early April and is currently around 22-23°C. Recent monitoring results indicate continuous gas flux into the lake.
Whakaari/White Island: Minor volcanic unrest continues. Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.
New observations in July continue to indicate low levels of volcanic activity at Whakaari/White Island. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
Whakaari/White Island: Minor volcanic unrest continues. Aviation Colour code changed to Green, Volcanic Alert Level remains Level 1.
Based on the continuously decreasing level of volcanic activity and following the drop in Volcanic Alert Level to 1 a week ago on Tuesday 16 June 2020, the Aviation Colour Code is now changed to Green. The Volcanic Alert Level for Whakaari/White Island remains at Level 1.
Whakaari/White Island: Volcanic Alert Level lowered to Level 1, minor volcanic unrest continues.
Based on the slowly decreasing level of volcanic activity and confirmation that the recently observed gas pulse was short-lived, the Volcanic Alert Level for Whakaari/White Island is now lowered to Level 1. The Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow.
Whakaari/White Island: New activity update, elevated unrest continues
Last week scientists recorded a short-lived gas pulse that passed through the volcano from depth. This gas pulse was accompanied by minor ground uplift in the vent area and is likely linked to a fresh batch of magma at shallow depth below the volcano. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2 and the Aviation Colour Code at Yellow.
Whakaari/White Island: Monitoring and activity update
Whakaari/White Island remains in an elevated state of volcanic unrest. Gas flux has varied above background levels, and was elevated in our latest observation flight. Other monitoring parameters mostly remain within the range observed over the last 2 months. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2; Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow.
Mt Ruapehu: Activity and Crater Lake temperature update
After a recent heating cycle, we anticipated that Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) would begin cooling to lower temperatures seen earlier this year. The lake reached a peak temperature of 42°C in early April and cooled to around 35°C shortly after. Recent monitoring indicates continuous gas flux which has kept the temperature around 35°C through May.
Mt Ruapehu: Crater Lake is now cooling again
An expected cooling trend for Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) is now confirmed. The lake reached a peak temperature of 42°C in early April, and is currently at 35°C.