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.
Whakaari/White Island: Volcanic unrest continues, lower gas emission and steady active vent temperatures
Recent gas and observation flights at Whakaari / White Island show lower gas emissions and low vent temperatures remain. The volcano still occasionally emits traces of volcanic ash and remains in a state of moderate to heightened unrest. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Mt Ruapehu status update: Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) now cooling
Another heating phase has passed at Mt Ruapehu. Over the last two months the temperature of Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) rose from 20 °C to 39.5 °C, peaking on 4 September 2021, and has now cooled to 28 °C. The Volcanic Alert Level at Mt Ruapehu remains at Level 1.
Whakaari/White Island: Notable cooling of vent area
A recent observation flight measured a sharp decline in vent temperatures; however, gas emissions stay high. The volcano is still in a state of moderate to heightened unrest and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island: Intermittent weak ash emissions continue
Intermittent ash emissions continued last week, and further occasional emissions are expected to occur in the coming weeks. Small amounts of ash were carried by the vigorous degassing a few hundred metres into the atmosphere near the volcano, and further activity of this type is unlikely to affect the mainland. The volcano remains in a state of moderate to heightened unrest and the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Whakaari/White Island: Ash emissions reduced, night glow continues
While intermittent ash emissions have reduced since last week, the volcano remains in a moderate to heightened state of unrest. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2.
Persistent low-level ash emission from Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
Minor-weak ash emission has been occurring at Whakaari/White Island since early this morning. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
Minor, short-lived ash emission from Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
A short-lived period of minor ash emission occurred at Whakaari/White Island on Sunday 22 August 2021. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2
Ongoing high heat flow from Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
High heat flow and moderate gas flux continue at Whakaari/White Island. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2.
Continued heat flow and changes in gas composition indicate increased unrest at Whakaari/White Island. Volcanic Alert Level raised to Level 2.
Persistent observations of night glow on the web cameras indicate continued emission of high-temperature gases. Continued decline of the carbon dioxide to sulphur dioxide ratio points to ongoing degassing of fresh magma. The Volcanic Alert Level has been raised to 2 and the Aviation Colour Code to Yellow. This also acknowledges the uncertainty about what is driving current activity at the volcano.
Increased heat flow confirms ongoing volcanic unrest at Whakaari/White Island
An observation and thermal infrared (IR) measurement flight has confirmed high temperatures are again present. These are from locations on the 2019 lava extrusions where high temperatures have been recorded before. These observations confirm the source of glow on the web cameras. There is no evidence of eruptive activity. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.