GNS scientists have recently visited White Island/Whakaari to make observations and continue to improve our volcano monitoring capabilities. The crater lake temperature is approximately 57 °C and its level continues to rise slowly. A new GPS system was installed to measure ground movements. The volcano remains in a generally elevated state of unrest.

During their visits to the island in early February, GNS Science staff measured the lake temperature (57°C) and that of fumarole F0 (147°C), on the southern part of ­the crater floor. These are similar to the last measurements in January. The lake level is still rising slowly, and has now drowned one of the fumaroles on the southern lake shore, causing occasional geysering in that area. No other substantial changes in activity in the lake area were observed compared with previous weeks.

A new permanent Global Positioning System (GPS) station­ was installed on the crater floor to strengthen the local volcano deformation monitoring. Volcanologist Brad Scott said: “Ground deformation at active volcanoes can be an indicator of pressure build-up at depth and general volcanic unrest. As one of multiple monitoring tools, GNS Science uses surveying techniques and GPS technology to monitor ground swelling and subsidence, to an accuracy of a few millimetres, at many of New Zealand’s volcanoes."

Over the past few weeks, the average daily sulphur dioxide gas flux has remained below 500 tonnes per day; this is lower than over the last few months and may be partly a result of the increasing lake level. GNS scientists also collected samples of rocks deposited during the October 2013 eruption; understanding how those eruptions occurred will help us to assess the future risk from the volcano.

White Island remains in a state of volcanic unrest. A range of eruptive activity can occur under these conditions and eruptions can start with little or no prior warning. Larger eruptions can eject mud and rocks and may impact the crater floor area. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1.

Nico Fournier Duty Volcanologist Contact: Brad Scott