Between 06:30 and 7:30 am this morning a vigorous steam and gas plume was observed rising from the island to about 1000 m. The plume appears to have carried a minor amount of ash as observed from our Whakatane webcam. Ash fall was local to the island and immediately to the west. The Metservice indicates no ash was detected beyond the island and there is no ashfall threat to the mainland.

Whakaari is in a period of elevated unrest and with the drying up of the vent area such short lived steam and ash emissions may become more frequent.

Although the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2, short lived increases in degassing or eruptions can still occur with little or no warning as shown by this morning's ash emission. The Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic unrest or activity and is not a forecast of future activity. While Volcanic Alert Level 2 is mostly associated with volcanic unrest hazards (including discharge of steam and hot volcanic gases, earthquakes, landslides, and hydrothermal activity), the potential for eruption hazards remains.

As we have no sensors on the island, we continue to rely on remote cameras and satellite imagery, complemented with gas and observation flights to assess the volcanic activity.

Further gas and observation flights will be conducted by GNS Science volcanologists to maintain a close eye on activity levels. GNS Science’s National Geohazards Monitoring Centre and Volcano Monitoring Group, through the GeoNet programme, will continue to closely monitor Whakaari/White Island for further changes in unrest.

Further information about the Volcanic Alert Levels and what they mean can be found here.

More information on the recent minor eruptions can be found here.

Craig Miller Duty Volcanologist

Media contact: 021 574541 or media@gns.cri.nz