Mt Ruapehu volcanic alert level stays raised as tremors continue

Moderate to strong volcanic tremors and shallow earthquakes have been recorded over the past week at Mt Ruapehu. Photo / File

By RNZ

Volcanic tremors continue to be recorded at Mt Ruapehu despite a drop in temperatures at the crater lake, GeoNet says.

Last week, the volcanic alert level was raised to 2 after a rise in temperatures at the crater lake, and it remains at that level. The aviation colour code is also still at yellow.

While Te Wai ā-moe's temperature has gone down from 43C to 41C, moderate to strong volcanic tremors and shallow earthquakes have been recorded over the past week.

In a statement, GNS said a lake temperature peak of about 40C to 46C was common during heating-cooling cycles, with at least seven occasions of the lake temperature exceeding 40C since 2007.

The largest recent earthquake was on December 26, measuring at a magnitude of 2.2, right under the volcano.

Volcanic tremors continue to be recorded at Mt Ruapehu despite a drop in temperatures at the crater lake. Photo / File

GNS said volcanic quakes of this size were uncommon and combined with the other ongoing factors, it indicated moderate to heightened volcanic unrest.

"The volcanic alert level should not be used to forecast future activity, however at volcanic alert level 2, eruptions are more likely.

"Volcanic alert level 2 indicates the primary hazards are those expected during volcanic unrest: steam discharge, volcanic gas, earthquakes, landslides and hydrothermal activity.

"While volcanic alert level 2 is mostly associated with environmental hazards, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning."

The research institute will attempt a gas flight to measure volcanic gas emissions this week and sample the water at the crater lake for further chemical analyses.

It said these would help identify processes occurring at depth beneath the volcano.