That's volcanic!!

Today is the anniversary of the eruption sequence that began on Ruapehu in 1995. It seems appropriate that yesterday we had a meeting of the Central Plateau Volcanic Advisory Group. The CPVAG (which really rolls off the tongue) has met several times now since the the 18 March 2007 dam break lahar and is really the next generation for volcanic hazard research and planning co-ordination. The Group meets 6 monthly to discuss a range of issues and is divided into three focus groups for science, emergency planning and communications.

At yesterday's meeting, we were updated on recent volcanic activity (or lack thereof), some of the improvements to warning systems and recent research activities. The Group has all but signed off on the Volcanic Strategy and is starting to think about the Contingency Plan. This work is intended to build on the good work taken in preparation for the dam break lahar and to cover awider geographic area.

For memory sake, this video was shot by crazy cameraman (and all round adrenalin junkie) Geoff Mackley (good on you Geoff!). You see the video on YouTube - it's quite good!

Volcano short course

GNS Science and Massey University are again running their very successful Planning for a volcanic crisis short course. This year the course is being held at the
Mercure Hotel in Auckland on 23-24 September. An optional field trip will also visit Rangitoto Island on the 25th.

The course covers:

• The volcano problem
• Impacts and mitigation
• Monitoring and warning systems
• Two case studies
• Lahars and breakout flooding
• Discussions on crisis management
• Planning for volcanic crisis
• Learning from others, and
• So what can you do?

For more information about the course, you can download the brochure from here. You can also contact Daryl Barton on 04-570-1444 or d.barton@gns.cri.nz. The course costs $500 per person and the field trip is $100.

Back on deck

Well, I've been away for a couple of weeks but the business just keeps on ticking!!!

The CEG agenda has gone out with the first draft of the CDEM Group Plan and Public Education and Information Strategy. We meet next week to work through these before they go up to the Joint Standing Committee.

On the hazards front, Ruapehu did a little belch. Fortunately, there was little effect from this event at the Crater Lake. GNS Science issued alert bulletin for this event. There was a pretty chunky earthquake down south but incredibly, very little damage. This event was as large as the 1931 earthquake! Anywhere else in the world, I'm sure there would have been an international response to a devastated area. Soon after the earthquake, a tsunami warning was issued by the PTWC. Again, we were lucky that a big wave was not generated. This one does bring home that the warning system is designed for distant source tsunami. It just takes time to work things out and then get plans initiated.

Finally, congratulations to members of the Volunteer Rural Fire Force in Levin. Many of the members graduated with their level 2 FRSITO certificates last night. Presentation of their certificates was made at a ceremony at the Horowhenua District Council by HDC Chief Execuitive David Ward and FRSITO Manager Leonce Jones.

Science alert bulletin

Not currently available via the GeoNet site, but here is the latest on Ruapehu.

VOLCANO ALERT BULLETIN: RUA-08/04

3 pm Monday, 21 July 2008

Ruapehu Volcano – Unrest declines

Alert Level Remains at 1

Science Alert Level 1

Ruapehu is showing signs of a decline in the level of unrest. Gas output, lake temperatures and volcanic tremor have all declined. The volcano last erupted on 25^th September 2007.The Alert Level remains at Level 1.

Ongoing monitoring at Ruapehu, including a Crater Lake visit to measure the lake temperature and collect water samples, data from airborne gas measurements and seismic activity, have shown declines in the recent measurements. This indicates that the current period of elevated unrest is passing.

The Crater Lake temperature has now dropped to around 23 to 25 ° C, having ranged from 34 to 37° C since October 2007. The latest measurement was 23.3° C (15 July). The airborne gas plume measurements which had shown significant increases after April 2008 now show that SO₂ and CO₂ gas emissions have decreased to the typical background levels for Ruapehu.

Results from the Crater Lake chemistry are also indicative of cooling in the vent area. The slight increase in the level of volcanic tremor we previously reported has also declined to typical background levels.

These observations are consistent with the volcano-hydrothermal system now cooling. The current phase of volcano unrest appears to be over, however Ruapehu remains an active volcano. Future eruptions may occur without warning.

The Alert Level remains at Level 1 (Departure from typical background surface activity, signs of unrest).

Contact:

Brad Scott

Volcano Surveillance coordinator

GNS Science

'Unusual unrest' on Ruapehu

From stuff.co.nz

Crater lake temperatures and gas on Mt Ruapehu remain stubbornly high, nine months after its last eruption, GNS Science says.

"That doesn't mean an eruption is likely, but the current unrest is unusual," GNS Science volcano surveillance coordinator Brad Scott said today.

Crater lake temperatures and gas levels usually follow a predictable pattern of returning to normal after eruptions, he said.

Horizons Regional Council emergency manager Shane Bayley called a meeting of emergency management agencies last week for a briefing by GNS Science and to brush up on Mt Ruapehu eruption response plans.

"We identified ways to improve communications between agencies including councils, GNS Science, Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, Civil Defence Emergency Management groups, Department of Conservation and police," Mr Bayley said.

"While no predictions can be made about what might happen in the future, based on the unusual levels of unrest on the mountain, it makes good sense to be fully prepared."

He said police would lead the response on the mountain to any eruption and Ruapehu operators had worked with police and DOC to ensure appropriate reactions.

"We would like to reassure the public that the situation on Ruapehu is being watched closely by the Central Plateau Volcanic Advisory Group," said Mr Bayley.

Keeping a finger on the pulse

Ruapehu had a bit of a hiccup in September last year and since that time things haven't really returned to normal background levels. In fact some of the volcanic indicators that our volcano experts keep an eye on have remained elevated or even increasing.

Given this snippet of information, we thought it appropriate to have a bit of a get together of some of the members of the Central Plateau Volcanic Advisory Group. Yesterday, we had a meeting in Taupo to make sure that our co-ordination plans were up to date and we were all on the same page. The snow storms of Tuesday night resulted in many of the roads around the region being closed and Annie (Ruapehu District) was unable to get through. We did have reps from DoC, GNS Science, Police, Waikato CDEM Group EOC, Horizons Regional Council (and Manawatu-Wanganui CDEM Group), Environment Waikato, Taupo District Council and the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.

The meeting was very focused after an update from Brad Scott and I'm please to say that coordination arrangements are good to go. The agreement around the table about roles and responsibilities is excellent. Police are clearly the lead agency and the incident control point will be at Whakapapa. Good coordination of response agencies on the mountain is in place and an annual check of response plans has already been undertaken for the ski season.

We have tweaked the coordination arrangements and have agreed to exchange plans and improve inter-agency communications. Expectations on the CDEM Groups will also be minimal unless we have a volcanic event in conjunction with other incidents. The CDEM Groups will largely take a monitoring role and support the Incident Controller where requested.

So, for all those keen skiers and trampers out there, we are keeping our fingers on the pulse of the Central Plateau volcanoes and are confident that our emergency co-ordination arrangements are ready if they are needed. In the meantime though it looks like a fantastic season ahead so enjoy!