Latest news with #VolcanicAlert
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Whakaari activity disrupts Tauranga flights, now back to normal
'On Sunday morning, with a light wind, the plume reached high elevations, making the volcanic activity appear stronger. None of these plumes had the potential for ash to fall on the Bay of Plenty coastline,' Lamb said. GNS, through the Geonet programme, provided up-to-date information about ash potentially falling on the ground. MetService, via the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, was responsible for providing advisories about the presence of ash in the air for aircraft. 'This activity resulted in the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issuing an advisory causing flights to be cancelled in and out of Tauranga,' Lamb said. 'The steam and gas plume are typical behaviour for Whakaari/White Island and consistent with what we'd expect to see at Volcanic Alert Level 3 and Aviation Colour Code Orange. 'These levels acknowledge the current level of activity but also reflect the degree of uncertainty about the level of unrest due to the current lack of consistent, usable real-time monitoring data – volcanic activity could escalate with little or no warning.' On Sunday afternoon, the Tauranga region experienced a light easterly from about 1pm. This changed to a light southwesterly overnight and was expected to change to a light westerly by Monday evening, according to the MetService forecast. 'We do not expect there to be ashfall on the Bay of Plenty coastline, but during northerly or easterly wind conditions, locals might notice a sulphur odour caused by the minor ash load in the steam and gas plume,' Lamb said. Good information and advice about the impacts of the steam and gas plume or volcanic ash was available online at BOP Emergency Managemen t, NEMA and Health New Zealand.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Whakaari ash plume prompts volcanic alert increase; coastal haze possible
Bay of Plenty residents might notice subtle changes in the air quality in the coming days, as scientists monitoring Whakaari/White Island have observed a gradual increase in volcanic activity. This shift has prompted GNS Science to raise the Volcanic Alert Level to 3, though the Aviation Colour Code remains at Orange for now. Over the past few months, satellites and distant webcams have increasingly captured traces of volcanic ash mingling within the usual steam and gas plume emanating from the island. Officials at New Zealand MetService have also detected these fine particles drifting in the upper atmosphere. From the coastline, particularly during northerly winds, this may manifest as a slight haze in the sky, accompanied by the distinct odour of sulfur carried on the breeze. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo Today's NYC Undo While these observations indicate a heightened state of activity beneath Whakaari, with evidence of intermittent, minor explosive events within the crater itself, experts emphasize that significant ashfall along the Bay of Plenty coastline is not currently anticipated. Duty volcanologist Geoff Kilgour assures residents that the ash emissions remain relatively low. Live Events The increase in ash and sulfur dioxide detected through remote monitoring – including satellite imagery and occasional gas flights – suggests a subtle but persistent build-up of pressure within the volcano. This can lead to these small bursts of activity, a common occurrence in active volcanic systems like Whakaari. Due to the lack of on-site monitoring equipment since the tragic events of 2019, scientists are relying heavily on these remote tools to track the volcano's behaviour. The current Volcanic Alert Level reflects both the observed increase in activity and the inherent uncertainty that comes with this remote monitoring approach. The GNS Science Volcano Monitoring Group and the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre will continue their diligent watch over Whakaari/White Island, analyzing every wisp of steam and trace of gas. Residents are advised to stay informed through official channels, as further updates will be provided as new information becomes available. For now, be aware of potential hazy skies and sulfurous smells.
