Crater lake steaming, but The Big One' unlikely

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 570, 24 January 1995, Page 3

Crater lake steaming, but The Big One' unlikely

Ruapehu's Crater Lake was at its most spectacular for this current round of activity last Friday, with 100m high steamjets rising off the water.

The lake was 50°C on Friday and the atmospheric conditions led to the show of steam. Department of Conservation staff are advising

people to stay away from the lake basin, the lake edges and the lake outlet. They also advise people not to stay long at the Dome Shelter area (the closest ad-

visable viewing place) and to be aware that there is some risk with hydrothermal activity a regular occurrence. The activity is part of the regular 6-12 monthly cycle of heating and cooling for the lake. Scientists say big eruptions have occurred in the past when the lake temperature has been low. 50 years In October this year the 1945 Ruapehu eruption is to be commemorated as part of Volcanic Awareness Week, which is aimed at

increasing the awareness of the hazards and risks from active volcanoes in the central North Island. The emption occurred on 1 2 November 1 945 and was the largest North Island eruption this century. The eruptive episode lasted from March to December and involved the growth of a lava dome which entirely displaced the Crater Lake. A series of explosive eruptions eventually removed the dome and during the course of the eruption ash was dispersed over most of the North Is-

land. Ash fell as far afield as Upper Hutt and Whakatane. The Hawkes Bay was coated by numerous ash falls .between August and December. The ash caused " a nuisance in affected communities, causing eye and throat irritations, entering and soiling interiors of houses, and damagingpaint work on cars. Crop damage was reported around Ohakune, T aumarunui ' s water supply was disrupted and the hospital at the Chateau was forced to close due to fre-

quent loss of water and electricity supply. "The eruption was relatively small in comparison to many of the past eruptions from the central North Island volcanoes but serves as a reminder of the hazards that exist," states the national co-ordinating committee of Volcanic Hazard Awareness Week. Following the eruption the lake refilled but a catastrophic failure of a portion of the crater wall released water from the lake on 24 December 1953 resultingin the Tangiwai Disaster.