Ruapehu Activity ‘Not Major'

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 12

Ruapehu Activity ‘Not Major'

(New Zealand .Prese Association)

HAMILTON, July 25.

From early reports it does not appear that activity on Mount Ruapehu during the weekend is of major proportions, according to the geophysics division of the D.S.I.R. However, a department team is visiting the mountain today to make an assessment of the situation.

In its most spectacular disturbance since 1945, Mount Ruapehu yesterday shot sttam 3000 ft above the crater lake. No Tremors Mr F. F. Evison, director of the Geophysics Division, said today that no earth tremors had been reported by people on the mountain at the time erf the activity. "This might be taken to mean that the activity is not a major event,” he said. “However we are concerned to look at our sensitive instruments at the Chateau which will give us a much better assessment of the disturbance.” These outbursts were so rare, he said, that the department did not have a lot of experience in assessing what a particular one might mean. Two lecturers in geophysics at Victoria University, together with three students, left Wellington by a utility vehicle this afternoon for the crater lake on Mount Ruapehu, where they will take readings in the lake and relate them to other readings taken last June.

They are Dr. D. A. Christoffel, lecturer in geophysics in the physics department, and Mr R. R. Dibble, lecturer in geophysics in the geology department. Both are studying vulcanology.

Last June they took temperature readings in the lake and found that it was increasing. They calculated that the temperature at the bottom of the lake would be well above boiling point. Convection would result and steam eruptions would follow. Mr Dibble said Ruapehu steam eruptions had occurred on many occasions. He thought there was no danger of a major eruption, however, and that if any eruption were to occur adequate warning could be given.