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 crater lake level drops and is unlikely to overflow
As at April 13, 2019 the crater lake is about 13 metres below overflow, which is 2 metres lower than the peak level reached earlier this year in January.
White Island (Whakaari): Rising Crater Lake may cause hydrothermal surface activity
The Crater Lake at White Island continues to grow, which may cause hydrothermal surface activity. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at 1.
White Island (Whakaari): Lake level rises
Observations during visits to White Island and from the web cameras confirm that the crater lake is starting to reform and volcanic activity remains at low levels.
White Island (Whakaari): Volcano remains quiet, moderate gas emissions
Observations during visits to White Island over the last 3-4 months confirm that activity remains at low levels. Activity is confined to the gas rich vents on the western side of the active crater. Hot, clear gas continues to be emitted. Some water has ponded on the floor of the active crater but no permanent lake has reformed. The seismic and acoustic activity generally remain low, and the SO2 gas flux is slowly declining.
White Island (Whakaari): Lake disappears, strong fumarole emissions
Observations during a visit to White Island on Friday have confirmed that a large part of the gas is now being emitted from one ‘joint’ vent on the lava outcrop at the back of the crater. The joining of the vents has resulted in a stronger and noisier gas flow from this vent. The temperature has declined slightly, it is now only 250 °C, down from 300 °C.
White Island (Whakaari): Alert Level lowered to Level 1
No further sustained eruptive activity has been observed at White Island. As a consequence the Volcanic Alert Level has been lowered to Level 1. The Aviation Colour code remains Yellow.
End of Minor Eruptive Activity at White Island (Whakaari)
Observations from a visit to White Island on Wednesday suggest that the minor ash emission that occurred on Tuesday 13 September 2016 has ceased. The Volcanic Alert Level is lowered to 2, and the Aviation Colour code is lowered to Yellow.
Minor Eruptive Activity at White Island (Whakaari): Update
Monitoring data available from the island confirms there has been no escalation in the level of activity and the emission of ash is currently very minor.
Minor Eruptive Volcanic Activity Observed at White Island (Whakaari): Update
As far we can tell from our monitoring data there has been no escalation in the level of activity at White Island since late morning. Seismic activity remains low on the island. Some of our cameras are now been affected by ash and steam, so we may not see much from them in the short term.
Minor Eruptive Volcanic activity observed at White Island (Whakaari): Volcanic Alert Level raised to Level 3
The level of volcanic activity at White Island has increased late this morning with minor volcanic ash been passively emitted from a vent on the 2012 lava dome. A report from the island at 11.50h has confirmed the ash emission.