Mount Tongariro erupts in New Zealand 7th August 2012

[Mark]

August 6, 2012 – NEW ZEALAND – The volcanic alert level for Mt. Tongariro has risen from 1 to 2 after the central North Island volcano erupted for the first time in more than a century late last night. GNS science is reporting that at approximately 11:50 pm on Monday night ash fall began to be reported in the volcano’s vicinity – it has since been reported as far east as SH5 near Te Haroto and in Napier. GNS duty volcanologist Michael Rosenberg told Radio New Zealand that some people are reported to have left their houses on the southern shores of Lake Rotoaira, though no formal notices of evacuation have been issued so far by Civil Defense. He said residents in the area have told GNS of hearing several loud explosions, lightning and plumes of smoke and police have been told by an onlooker that “a new hole in the side of the mountain” had formed. They have also reported bright red rocks flying out of the mountain. The eruption reportedly happened at the Te Mari Craters, which are close to the Ketetahi Hot Springs on the northern side of the mountain. Civil Defence says the volcanic activity could pose a threat to the Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Manawatu-Wanganui, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki regions. A warning was also issued at 1.45am to people in these affected areas saying residents should stay indoors since volcanic ash is a health hazard. –NZ Herald

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[JennyLeez]

Wairoa Hawkes Bay:
Strong smell of Sulphur and fine gray ash covering the township.

Weather Watch Report:

For the first time in over a century, Mt Tongariro has erupted. The volcanic alert level for Mt Tongariro has risen from 1 to 2 after the central North Island volcano erupted late last night.
GNS science is reporting that at approximately 11:50pm on Monday night ash fall began to be reported in the volcano's vicinity - it has since been reported as far east as SH5 near Te Haroto and in Napier.
GNS duty volcanologist Michael Rosenberg told Radio New Zealand that some people are reported to have left their houses on the southern shores of Lake Rotoaira, though no formal notices of evacuation have been issued so far by Civil Defense.
He said residents in the area have told GNS of hearing several loud explosions, lightning and plumes of smoke and police have been told by an onlooker that "a new hole in the side of the mountain" had formed.
They have also reported bright red rocks flying out of the mountain.
The eruption reportedly happened at the Te Mari Craters, which are close to the Ketetahi Hot Springs on the northern side of the mountain.
Civil Defence says the volcanic activity could pose a threat to the Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Manawatu-Wanganui, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki regions.
A warning was also issued at 1.45am to people in these affected areas saying residents should stay indoors since volcanic ash is a health hazard.
It said:
• Residents should stay indoors, especially anyone suffering from breathing difficulty.
• Close all windows and doors to limit ash getting in.
• If outside, seek shelter.
• Wear a dust mask or handkerchief over nose and mouth if caught in an ash fall.
Due to possible danger to the public the police have closed SH1 between Rangipo and Waiouru (Desert Road) and SH46 west of Rangipo. SH47 and 4 remain open at this stage as does SH5.
Motorists are being advised to avoid travel in the area and these closures will be re-assessed once daylight reveals the extent of the ash cloud.
The national aviation advisory says that flights between the east and west of the North Island are the most likely to be affected by the ash cloud.
Police are sending search and rescue teams up Mt Tongariro at first light to check no one is stranded in huts. However, they say there have been no reports of injuries or damage.
The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) is currently assessing information with the assistance of GNS scientific advisors.
It has not yet activated the National Crisis Management Centre which is called upon in times of emergency like the Christchurch earthquake.
New Zealand's other high profile active volcano, White Island, also had its alert level raised from 1 to 2 on Monday after a small eruption was recorded in its crater lake.

[JennyLeez]

Hawkes Bay Today Newspaper:
The smell of sulphur is in the Hawke's Bay air this morning following the eruption of Mt Tongariro, with flights in and out of the region delayed or cancelled as a light haze of volcanic ash hangs over the region.
Up to 1mm of ash has been reported on the ground in Wairoa, with light ash falls also reported in Taradale and Napier.
Our reporter has travelled the Napier-Taupo road and says it is clear of ash, but there is a very strong smell of sulphur in the air.
Flights from Auckland and Wellington to Hawke's Bay have been cancelled this morning and flights out of Hawke's Bay Airport have also been cancelled or delayed due to the volcanic ash.
Flight departure details can be checked here and flight arrival information can be checked here.
New Zealand and Hawke's Bay Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills is with Ministry of Primary Industries staff in Auckland monitoring the impact of the Mt Tongariro eruption this morning.
"I've spoken to my regional representatives around central North Island and at this stage the ash falling doesn't seem to be a major problem.
"Information on the GNS website says the ash is about 20,000 feet so we are hoping we can sneak under that cloud, and the ash blow out to sea."
Mr Wills, from Te Pohue, said he had phoned family at his northern Hawke's Bay property this morning to see if there was any ash visible.
"They say they're ok. But we are watching the situation carefully because if there is a likelihood of a lot of ash falling on pasture in areas, that could mean some animal health issues for farmers."

Photos below taken in Wairoa, Northern Hawkes Bay.
Coverage over Van plus Dog foot prints and Tyre prints over drive way.

[JennyLeez]

Some History:
Tongariro is a complex of multiple volcanic cones constructed over a period of 275,000 years. The active vents include Te Māri, Emerald, North Crater and Red Crater. There have been five reported eruptions from the Te Māri craters between 1855 and 1897 but they have been dormant since then.

Most Recent Eruption

Where: Te Māri
When: 1869, 1892, 1896 and 1897
Effects: In 1869 a large eruption (accompanied by an earthquake) formed the upper Te Māri Crater during an explosive eruption. Māori descriptions talk of "bright red flame through the smoke that would burst and fall like snow". In November 1892 Te Māri again belched forth an immense quantity of steam, mud and boulders; the ejected material rose 2,000 - 3,000 feet (600 - 900 m) before rushing down the mountain side. The last eruption began in November 1896 and activity lasted until October 1897.

115 Years later.
Aug 6 2012, 4:00 pm - Tongariro Volcano
Volcanic Alert Bulletin TON-2012/04 - Update: Alert Level remains at Level 1; Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow

Aug 7 2012, 12:25 am - Tongariro Volcano
Volcanic Alert Bulletin TON-2012/05 - Probable eruption at Tongariro; Alert Level raised to Level 2; Aviation Colour Code changed to Red

Aug 7 2012, 1:45 am - Tongariro Volcano
Volcanic Alert Bulletin TON-2012/06 - Volcanic ashfall prediction; Alert Level remains at Level 2; Aviation Colour Code remains at Red

Update: 7th August 2012
GNS Science has said that the current activity may last for hours, days, weeks, months or even longer. Translated into human terms, nobody knows how the volcano would behave.
Some roads have been blocked as a precaution. People living in the direct vicinity are told to keep their windows closed.
At present no evacuations have been ordered and are not likely to be called because of the location of the volcano and the active vents.

11.04am - GNS scientist Brad Scott has told a press conference that eruptions are expected to continue for "at least days".
11.02am - Tongariro could explode more violently or fall into a pattern of volcanic events lasting weeks, months or even years, experts say.
Auckland University volcanologist Phil Shane said the small eruption this morning could signal the start of a pattern of explosions at the central North Island mountain.
He drew a comparison to the Caribbean volcano Montserrat, which rumbled to life in 1995 and has continued to erupt until today.
A more violent eruption in the coming days or a drop off in all volcanic activity was also possible, Associate Professor Shane said.
"We don't know how long it could go. It could be a one off or it could go weeks, months years or even a decade."

[JennyLeez]

Aug 8 2012, 4:30 pm - White Island Volcano
Volcanic Alert Bulletin WI-2012/03 - First ash emissions since 2000; Alert Level is at Level 2; Aviation Colour Code is Orange

Aug 9 2012, 1:00 pm - White Island Volcano
Volcanic Alert Bulletin WI-2012/04 - Volcanic ashfall prediction; Alert Level is at Level 2; Aviation Colour Code is Orange

Aug 9 2012, 4:00 pm - White Island Volcano
Volcanic Alert Bulletin WI-2012/05 - Ash emissions confirmed; Alert Level is at Level 2; Aviation Colour Code is Orange

TV3 - Campbell Live
"Tonight, we have exclusive pictures from White Island as scientists confirm it's not just steaming and bubbling - it's erupting!"

[TokWW]

A good report on the current activity at Mt Tongariro was found by Bett and pointed to elsewhere but i will share it here:

http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/current-volcanic-activity.html

====================
More here from Geonet:

http://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano/alert-bulletins/archives/2012/aug-8-2012-3-00-pm-tongariro-volcano.html

Michael Rosenberg
Duty Volcanologist
August 8th.
===================

An image captured yesterday is here:



More info:

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing remains closed while the scientists continue to monitor and evaluate their data.

The track from Waihohunu Hut to Red Crater also remains closed.

Ketetahi hut has been badly damaged by rocks ejected from the Te Maari crater eruption.

The track above Ketetahi Hut as far as Blue Lake has also been damaged in places from erupted rocks. This area is within 1 ½ kilometres of the crater.

Adjacent tracks such as the Waihohunu from SH 1, Tama Lakes, Whakapapa Village and Taranaki Falls are open as are all other tracks in the Tongariro National Park.

The Ski areas of Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa and Turoa are unaffected by the volcanic activity and are open with lots of new snow this week.

Those who intended to undertake a winter Tongariro Alpine Crossing walk could consider a Ruapehu Crater walk.  Guides with all the alpine equipment are available.

The closest viewing of the Te Maari Crater is from SH 46 which takes you within 4 kilometres from the activity where steam continues to pour from the new vents.





Above Image courtesy of Geonet:
Image Copyright GeoNet NZ, taken 8 Aug 2012 - Upper Te Maari crater and eruption fissure.

View more images here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geonet_nz/





All images and data courtesy of Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

[bett]

We walked the track a few years ago.  What an amazing areas.  we never know when they will spring back to life.

this is an interesting site with good photos and updates

http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/current-volcanic-activity.html#.UCWAxByU5pE.facebook

[TokWW]

Thanks Bett - Leanne and I are yet to do that hike - possibly November this year or next year when kids are all out of the nest.

 I used that link right at the top of my post which I borrowed from your Google+ post

[TokWW]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/7453567/Magma-bubbles-higher-in-Mt-Tongariro



GNS Te Maari vent map final.

Tests have revealed that magma is bubbling higher than usual in Mount Tongariro, which means further eruptions are more likely.

 A series of samples have been tested since the volcano's Te Mari crater erupted on Monday night, but the latest results give the greatest insight.

 "We're now convinced that the likelihood of this just being a one-off has decreased," GNS vulcanologist Nico Fournier said.

 "But it doesn't mean it's just about to blow and go pear-shape."

 The results detected sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide in the steam plume, which indicated that magma was closer to the surface than it usually was, Fournier said.

 It was unclear how high the magma was - it could be anything from metres to kilometres, Fournier said.

 If a magmatic eruption did occur then it wouldn't necessarily be significant, he said. It could result in a lava flow or it could lead to a series of explosions.

 "It doesn't mean it could be a massive eruption, it could be passive," Fournier said.

 It was also likely that Monday night's eruption could be followed by a series of steam eruptions, or no activity at all, Fournier said.

 Civil Defence, along with a number of other organisations including the Department of Conservation, would continue to monitor the volcano's activity.

 There was no new advice or warnings that stemmed from the latest development, a Civil Defence spokesman said.

 There was about 2100 tonnes of sulphur dioxide being emitted from the volcano per day.

 That was above average and the highest suplhur dioxide emission rate for any New Zealand volcano, however it wasn't unexpected considering the amount of steam and gas which was being emitted, a GNS spokesperson said.

 Further visual observations were being undertaken today.

 Scientists would also be obtaining gas and water samples from the nearby Ketetahi hot springs and some of the rocks which were ejected from the crater and which damaged the Ketetahi hut.

 The volcano was still ejecting steam and gas this morning while tremors continued to shake the earth below it, Fournier said.

 Meanwhile, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake in the Bay of Plenty this morning has had no impact on White Island, which erupted on Tuesday night.

 It was the first eruption in 12 years for the country's most active and largest cone.

 White Island tended to have volcanic episodes which lasted a few months to a few years, so this could just be the start of more to come, Rosenberg said.

 The Te Mari crater last erupted in 1897.

 - © Fairfax NZ News