Eruption not imminent says park man

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 3 May 1988, Page 39 (Supplement)

Eruption not imminent says park man

Recent activity at the crater lake of Mt Ruapehu is not necessarily a sign of a pending eruption, according to Tongariro National Park staff. Senior Park Interpreter Simon Noble said the mountain's activity may be interpreted as a sign that

all is well. "While it is letting off steam it means the magma chamber is open and pressure is being released," he said. "It's when it goes cold and frigid that there's cause to worry,." Mr Noble said the

phreatic activity experienced over the last two months is not generally explosive and is not uncommon. "The mountain frequently goes into periods of extended minor activity," he said. DSIR staff have kept a

close moniter of the lake's circumference in recent weeks. A sure sign of a pending eruption is a swelling in size, signalling a build-up of energy below. Officials did note however, a significant rise of seven degrees celcius of the lake's

temperature in April. A "large" volcanic earthquake was noted on the park's seizmological equipment on the weekend, according to Mr Noble. Locals also observed a 'puff of steam rising from the crater lake on Friday.