REGION ROCKS, ROLLS AND ERUPTS
Tuesday's earthquake centred 140km deep, 40km south of Patea was well and truly felt in the Waimarino. The quake measured just under six on the Richter Scale but no damage was recorded in this area. The following morning there was a small steam eruption from the
Mount Ruapehu Crater Lake which, because of atmospheric conditions, sent a spectacular column of steam high into the sky. Scientists reassure us that the two events are unlikely to be linked however, and that the Ruapehu activity is part of a cycle of activity that has been going on for some years. DSIR seismologist Steven Sherburn said the crater lake temperature regularly swings between 10 degrees and 40 degrees Celsius. He said it's currently at about 30 degrees and
that steam eruptions at that temperature were common. This year has seen several steam eruptions but what made this one different was the minus six degrees air temperature with no wind. These conditions led to the unusually high steam column. DoC officer Russell Montgomery said the department had received a number of calls from people concerned at the sight of the eruption. He said there have been several minor steam eruptions during recent weeks.
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Bibliographic details
Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 299, 11 August 1989, Page 6
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204REGION ROCKS, ROLLS AND ERUPTS Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 299, 11 August 1989, Page 6
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