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.
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.
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.
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.
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.