WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ISLAND VOLCANO??? New Zealand/Kermadec & South Pacific QUAKE/VOLCANO WATCH

5.3 2012/12/14 16:52:38 -15.368 -178.107 10.0 FIJI REGION

4.6 2012/12/14 09:55:44 -19.029 169.541 9.9 VANUATU

I hope so too Tauranga, NZ is indeed a wonderful place !

I know this may sound strange but the first thing I would visit is a merino sheep farm in the southern alps, I want to see where my Icebreaker clothing came from...

I find it incredible how this world is interconnected, it's a freezing night where I'm at, it's -20 C but I'm being kept warm thanks to merino wool from sheep grown on the other side of the world in your beautiful country ! :)

no, that doesnt sound strange at all, SZ

i think quite a few tourists start in the south island when they come here, and work their way up to the top

but you have an extra special reason for wanting to go south first xxx

Volcanic activity world-wide 14 December 2012: Batu Tara, Paluweh, Tobachik, Askja, Popocatépetl, Fuego, Tungurahua, Reventador, Sakurajima, Tongariro, Ruapehu, White Island

Friday Dec 14, 2012 19:02 PM | Age: 1 hrs

BY: T

A probably larger than normal explosion today at Batu Tara volcano in Indonesia produced an ash plume spotted on satellite images drifting at 8,000 ft altitude (2,4 km).

The new lava dome of Paluweh volcano produced an ash plume rising to 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude today.

KVERT reports strong volcanic tremor at Plosky Tolbachik volcano in Kamchatka again today. Ash plumes were rising to approx. 10-13,000 ft (about 3-4 km) altitude.

A small swarm of earthquakes has started today about 10 km west of the Askja volcano caldera in Iceland.

Activity of Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico has picked up a bit again. During 13-14 Dec, gas and steam emissions have increased to more than 2 per hour again. The larger ones were at 11:13 h, 11:19 h yesterday and today at 09:23 h and 09:31 local time. These produced plumes rising more than 1 km and drifting NE.
Crater glow was seen at night.

4 weak explosions were observed at Fuego volcano during the past 24 hours; the lava flow was 200 m long this morning.

Activity of Santiaguito has not changed, the strongly degassing dome continues to produce viscous lava flows descending its flanks.

Numerous small volcanic earthquakes have recently been occurring at Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. According to Earthquake-Report.com, these likely reflect input of new (hotter) volcanic fluids beneath the cone.

A strong pulse of volcanic tremor and volcanic earthquakes occurred at Reventador volcano earlier today, suggesting a possible small emission. Visible observations remain difficult due to cloud cover and there are no other reports of activity.

In Japan, Sakurajima volcano has produced more frequent explosions of small to moderate size, 6 during yesterday and 3 so far (GMT time).

Increased numbers of small earthquakes were visible at Tongariro and Ruapehu volcano in New Zealand.

At White Island volcano, continuous volcanic tremor continues to be visible. We have no news about whether the observed new lava dome has changed. [link to www.volcanodiscovery.com]

i find it very interesting that lately, our large quakes seem to be given a HIGHER magnitude at USGS, EMSC etc..

New Zealand Earthquake Report
Magnitude 5.8, Saturday, December 8 2012 at 7:19:06 am (NZDT) reviewed
Felt it?
Quake Details
Information about this earthquake and historical location data.

Public ID 2012p923684
Universal Time December 7 2012 at 18:19:06
NZ Daylight Time Saturday, December 8 2012 at 7:19:06 am
Latitude, Longitude -38.35, 176.06
Intensity ? moderate
Focal Depth 175 km
Magnitude 5.8
Location 20 km south-east of Tokoroa
Agency WEL(GNS_Primary)
Status ? reviewed
Quality ? best
^^^^^^this quake was listed as a 6.3 at the other sites, but here it was called a 5.8???

not so long ago, it was always the other way around:
Thread: M7.0 New Zealand, 04/07/12 (6.2 USGS)

Hey Luis !

Indeed a lot of volcano activity around the world, if things continue down this path we might enter a small ice age !

hiya luis

yes there are lots of quakes happening near the active volcanoes

and in regard to the underlined part, this IS NOT GOOD, in light of how experiened vulcanologists around the world view this new development at white island as very serious and potentially extremely hazardous to human (and other) life here in nz

we should be seeing regular updates about white island, but they are not forthcoming

we nead more to start a mini ice age... a big one at least...

and that is a very real possibility, in fact it is inevitable

and maybe very soon...

The record temperature in my country last night was -31 C, in the Carpathian mountains !

If we enter even a minor iceage, temperatures like this will be common throughout Europe during the winter and during the summer they won't go over 10 C which needless to say it's not enough to grow any crops ! :(

and that is one of 2 the biggest concerns, when the ice age happens..

no one will be able to grow food

the other killer, of course will be the extreme cold

With good winter clothing you can withstand even bitter cold temperatures like -30 C but the real problem is if temperatures don't rise in the summer to levels that would allow crops to grow...that is the real killer !

And if enough CO2 and methane (green house gases) build up in the atmosphere cos of too many volcanoes going off at the same time, we're going to get that mini-iceage within our lifetimes, probably in the next 5-10 years !

the trouble is, most people wouldnt even think of this, so they simply wont have the necessary clothing on hand, if needed

everyone should make sure they have super warm clothes on hand for their families

you can buy thermal clothes at second hand shops even, we wont care what we look like, as long as we are warm enough when this shtf

A year ago I've spent every last dime of my savings on special winter clothes and some emergency food supplies !

Everyone in my family said I was crazy for doing this but I think it's common sense to be prepared !

An earthquake or other natural disaster can hit anyone no matter where they live in the world and those winter clothes could mean the difference between life and death !

absolutely, SZ

you did a wise thing

Scientists warn of unrest along New Zealand's North Island volcano belt - New Zealand's central North Island looks set for a period of volcanic activity after warnings issued on three volcanoes over the last two days.
On Wednesday, scientists at the government's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science) announced they had noticed a "spiny lava dome" that had grown in a crater on White Island, a volcanic island off the east of the North Island, after an eruption on August 5. GNS Science raised the volcanic alert level to level two, indicating minor eruptive activity, and the aviation color code to orange, warning pilots that an eruption was underway with little or no ash emissions.
"The dome is probably 20 to 30 meters across and has spines sticking up. In more than 30 years I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT while visiting White Island. If you imagine a volcano is like a tube of toothpaste then a lava dome is like the congealed, dried toothpaste that has come out of the tube. It doesn't move like a lava flow, but grows from the inside as new magma comes up and pushes the already cooled magma upwards and outwards." Lava domes were common at some volcanoes, but HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE AT WHITE ISLAND, where magma last reached the surface in 2000 during an explosive eruption that threw up molten rocks called volcanic bombs, rather than forming a dome. "Our concern is that lava dome growth can be accompanied by explosive eruptions and could impact people on the island. We need to see if the dome is continuing to grow. If it's not growing, then we will be less concerned."
Also Wednesday, GNS Science volcanologists warned they still believed Mount Ruapehu, in the central North Island, remained at a heightened level of unrest and that an eruption was more likely than normal. "Our analysis is still showing higher than normal temperatures beneath the crater lake. We think this reflects a partially sealed zone a few hundred meters beneath the lake, which might be causing a pressure build up behind it. That pressure would make an eruption more likely than normal. It doesn't mean that an eruption is inevitable.
"If the sealed zone fails suddenly an eruption could occur, probably with little or no warning. If it fails more gradually then the pressure would probably be released more slowly and the likelihood of an eruption would revert to normal." The crater lake was quiet and its temperature had remained relatively low at 20 to 25 degrees centigrade since March. Eruptions at Ruapehu in 1988, 2006 and 2007 were believed to have occurred as a result of sudden failure of a seal beneath the crater lake. Small earthquakes 3 to 5 km beneath the crater lake in late October and early November had stopped, but it was unclear whether they were related to the high temperatures estimated a few hundred meters beneath the lake. The volcanic alert level for Ruapehu remains at level one, indicating a departure from typical background surface activity, and the aviation color code at yellow, indicating signs of elevated unrest above known background levels.
On Tuesday, GNS Science warned that neighboring Mount Tongariro was still showing a substantial possibility of further eruptions after an eruption in August and two more last month. "After the second eruption in November we now have to consider the possibility that Tongariro might have entered an eruptive episode and this unrest could continue for several months. Within an episode Tongariro might quietly discharge steam most of the time, but occasionally have small eruptions with little or no warning. There was a similar episode of activity in the 1890s."
Tongariro had seen only minor seismic activity since November 21, but but there had been a very noticeable gas discharge in recent days. It is on volcanic alert level one and aviation color code yellow. The 80,000-hectare Tongariro National Park has more than 1 million visitors a year. Last month's eruption resulted in videos of panicked hikers fleeing from the plume of ash and steam. Tongariro's eruption on Aug. 6 was the first since 1897.

[link to globaldisasterwatch.blogspot.co.nz]

3.4 15:01:11 Sat 15 Dec 2012 Depth: 12.5 km

4.0 09:59:48 Sat 15 Dec 2012 Depth: 495.4 km

I agree, an amazing thread.. you are just awesome woman!..

Stay safe sis ..
love ya

hiya EW

what a pleasure to hear from you here

i return the compliment, you are an awesome woman!!!

you, my dear, are one of the reasons i became a member of GLP and began my first thread (which i unfortunately lost) and this, the second nz/kermadec/pacific watch thread

i used to read your amazing posts on gabe and Q's threads and i was so excited when i became a member and could finally communicate with you in person

you rock sister!!! xxxxxx

CYOB #2 Cat 4 Cyclone Evan 15th dec 2012

Published on Dec 14, 2012
Now a catagory 4 Severe Cyclone. Our thoughts and Prayers go to all who are experiencing events.... Namaste

3.0 20:58:33 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 213.1 km

3.5 20:09:45 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 214.3 km

4.8 18:52:04 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 33.0 km

3.0 18:39:16 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 16.7 km

4.2 18:20:23 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 33.0 km

3.3 04:18:24 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 76.9 km

3.8 02:47:20 Sun 16 Dec 2012 Depth: 330.9 km

3.5 18:03:38 Sat 15 Dec 2012 Depth: 8.8 km

4.0 09:59:48 Sat 15 Dec 2012 Depth: 495.4 km

Ryan Maue @RyanMaue 4h
GFS 00z takes Cyclone Evan very near Nadi, Fiji on worst side of major tropical cyclone. [link to mobile.twitter.com (secure)]

Ryan Maue @RyanMaue 8h
Cyclone Evan near Fiji has found environment for dual-outflow channels. Very intense central convection. IR sat: [link to mobile.twitter.com (secure)]

[link to www.youtube.com]

NZ is active again too: White Island is on aviation Code orange. Here is a screenshot of the drums shown yesterday, with this image you can see how they got stronger.


Today the page is pretty much all blue, almost completely covering the white background of the tremor graphs.
[link to www.geonet.org.nz]
All through yesterday a lot of fumarolic activity was visible.

Again you can check todays activity for yourself at
[link to www.geonet.org.nz]
[link to volcanocafe.wordpress.com]

Ryan Maue @RyanMaue 2h
Small eye of Evan, now 115 knots, Cat 4 should pass by Fiji -- but hurricane conditions in Nadi are likely. [link to mobile.twitter.com (secure)]

[link to www.geonet.org.nz]
Volcanic Alert Level Summary
Table showing the latest volcanic alert levels. The most active volcanoes are shown first.

Volcano Alert Level Aviation Colour Code
White Island updated! 2 ORANGE
Volcano Drums
Showing seismic activity over the last 24 hours.
[link to www.geonet.org.nz]

hiya luis

yes, i noticed yesterday that the white island drum had become very dark, with hardly any white showing

this is a big concern, because of the changed state of this volcano; the spiny domes, and what their presence means in relation to this volcano now being capable of producing much more dangerous eruptions to what it has produced in the past

hmmm...

hiya AC

this is becoming very troubling

this volcano now poses a threat to us who are nearby on the mainland