News:
Seismic spectrum and amplitude from White Island (GeoNet)
Monday, Apr 29, 2013
Geonet has lowered the alert level of the volcano back to green (normal), following a gradual decline in seismic activity over the past weeks. Degassing remains intense, and after heavy rainfall during the recent past, a lake has been re-established at the main crater. [more]
Current seismic spectrum and amplitude from White Island (GeoNet)
Saturday, Apr 20, 2013
Volcanic tremor remains unstable and has risen again a bit recently. [more]

White Island volcano

stratovolcano 321 m (1,053 ft)
New Zealand, -37.52°S / 177.18°E
Current status: dormant (1 out of 5)
White Island webcams / live data
Last update: 29 Apr 2013
Typical eruption style: Explosive (in historic time: frequent small phreatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions)
White Island volcano eruptions: 2012, 2001, 1998-2000, 1998, 1995, 1986-94, 1983-84, 1976-82, 1974, 1971, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968-69, 1966-67, 1962, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1955, 1947, 1933, 1930, 1928, 1926, 1924, 1922, 1909, 1908 (?), 1886?,1886, 1885 (?), 1885, 1856 (?), 1836, 1826 Inside the crater of White Island volcano
White Island Volcano Photos

Last earthquakes nearby:
TimeMag. / DepthDistanceLocation
Sun, 21 Apr
Sun, 21 Apr 10:27 UTCM 3.5 / 5 km46 km10 km south-west of Te Kaha
Tue, 9 Apr
Tue, 9 Apr 06:01 UTCM 2.3 / 10 km12 km10 km south of White Island
Tue, 9 Apr 05:57 UTCM 3.4 / 8 km14 km15 km south of White Island
Tue, 2 Apr
Tue, 2 Apr 09:02 UTCM 3.4 / 19 km31 km25 km west of Te Kaha
View all recent quakes
White Island in the Bay of Plenty ca. 50 km off the North Island's east coast is one of New Zealands most active volcanoes, well known for its spectacular crater with strong hydrothermal activity and sulphur deposits. It is part of the active Taupo volcanic zone and last erupted in 2001 (phreatic explosion).

Background:

Uninhabited 2 x 2.4 km White Island, one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes, is the emergent summit of a 16 x 18 km submarine volcano in the Bay of Plenty about 50 km offshore of North Island. The 321-m-high island consists of two overlapping andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcanoes; the summit crater appears to be breached to the SE because the shoreline corresponds to the level of several notches in the SE crater wall. Volckner Rocks, four sea stacks that are remnants of a lava dome, lie 5 km NNE of White Island. Intermittent moderate phreatomagmatic and strombolian eruptions have occurred at White Island throughout the short historical period beginning in 1826, but its activity also forms a prominent part of Maori legends. Formation of many new vents during the 19th and 20th centuries has produced rapid changes in crater floor topography. Collapse of the crater wall in 1914 produced a debris avalanche that buried buildings and workers at a sulfur-mining project.
(Source: GVP)

White Island Photos:



2012 eruption
A new phase of activity started on 5 August 2012, following an increase in seismic activity since July. The eruption consisted in weak ash emissions from a new vent in the Crater Lake. It is the first ash emission from White Island in 12 years. ...more
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