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

Beached whales 'a gift' for research group

[link to www.stuff.co.nz]

The death of two Arnoux's beaked whales will, it is hoped, provide scientists with greater knowledge of the rare whales.

A group of researchers, headed by Professor Ewan Fordyce from the University of Otago, has arrived in Invercargill to begin examining the whale that beached itself at Sandy Point on Monday.

With the consent of the Department of Conservation and iwi, Prof Fordyce said it was possible some good could come from the whales' deaths.

"A stranded animal, putting aside the sad aspect of its death, is a bit of a gift from the sea to help us understand the species a bit more," he said.

"Mostly these animals live and die at sea and we don't get to look at them closely."

The Arnoux's beaked whale was an oceanic species - first named in the New Zealand region in 1851 - and it was uncommon to find them close to shore and shallow water, Prof Fordyce said.

"Scientists don't understand the species' habits too much except they like deep water, feed on squid and may be able to dive to depths of more than one kilometre."

The researchers would do a basic autopsy, collect samples and look at the internal organs for any obvious signs or reasons why the animal came to be stranded, he said.

"It is a long shot. There could be a number of factors, some unknown, as to why the whale ended up stranded," Prof Fordyce said.

The lure of the Southern Ocean, a rich source of food, could have brought the beaked whales to the south of New Zealand but why the whales would enter the estuary was a mystery, he said.

"The whales' deaths are a tragedy and the scientific community is duty bound to try and learn as much as possible from an occurrence like this."

Department of Conservation biodiversity programme manager Jessyca Bernard said while there was nothing more that could have been done to save the whales, the scientific research following their deaths could lead to something positive.

Meanwhile the boy who was the first one to spot the original beached whale at Omaui on Saturday said he was very sad to hear DOC had euthanised the animal.

Selwyn Crowley-Adams, 9, spotted the whale while he and his mother were driving through Omaui. "I saw the flipper go up and down. I knew it was a whale."

Selwyn spent two hours in the water with the whale "patting it and talking to it", he said.

[link to theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com]

Strong earthquake kills 1 in Indonesia
Posted on January 22, 2013 by The Extinction Protocol
map

January 22, 2013 – INDONESIA - Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency put the preliminary magnitude at 6.0 (5.9 USGS) and said the inland quake caused no tsunami. It was centered southwest of the city of Banda Aceh and 10 miles (6 kilometers) beneath the earth’s crust, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake hit about 5:22 a.m. (22:22 GMT Monday), rattling people awake in towns and villages across the Sumatra Island’s northern tip. A magnitude-4.7 aftershock quake followed a few minutes later. Sarjani Abdullah, the district head of Pidie, said a 9-year-old girl was found dead in the ruins of her home. At least seven other people, including a 3-year-old, suffered cuts and broken bones. Aceh province’s disaster mitigation agency said at least 30 houses and a mosque were ruined in Pidie Jaya district and hundreds of people were moved to temporary shelters as authorities surveyed the extent of the damage. Some electricity poles were knocked down in Tangse village, crashing into homes and causing blackouts. “It’s scared us. … We are still traumatized by the earthquake. My wife was screaming, my children crying,” said Masriadi, a Tangse resident. Fearing aftershocks, many people refused to go back inside for hours. Indonesia straddles a series of fault lines that makes the vast archipelago prone to volcanic and seismic activity. –ABC

Video of quake captured on cell phone

Hi T how are you? Tunderstorms hail and heavy rain here...

[link to www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz]
image

Experts warn of White Island eruption
Have your say » 22nd Jan 2013 12:34 PM

Hydrothermal activity at White Island has increased and an expert says there is "significant concern" the volcano could erupt with little or no warning.

GNS volcanologist Brad Scott visited the island - situated 48km from the Bay of Plenty coastline - and confirmed hydrothermal activity in the small "hot lake" had increased.

"The hydrothermal activity is some of the most vigorous I have seen at White Island for many years. This type of activity usually leads to stronger volcanic activity and is a significant concern," Mr Scott said.

He said large amounts of sediment were coming to the surface, often with vivid white steam and gas "flashing" from around the base of the lake.

"Every so often stronger events happened. This activity has been increasing since late 2012 and is now semi-continuous," he said.

The lava dome that was first observed in late November had not changed since the last observations on January 1 this year.

Mr Scott said seismicity was showing elevated levels of volcanic tremor, likely generated by the processes driving the vigorous hydrothermal activity in the lake.

The state of unrest at White Island was increasing and future eruptions were possible with little or no warning, he warned.
The increased level of unrest could result in a hazard to visitors.

hiya luis

we are good here, but we would love some rain..

water tank nearly empty..

well i can try to send you some rainy clouds!

Volcanoes greatest risk to this region

[link to www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz]
maps and photos

Bay residents are more concerned about earthquakes and tsunamis than volcanoes, despite the fact they pose the most serious civil defence risk.

The significant disconnect between public perception and actual scientific data has been highlighted in a report issued by the Bay's Civil Defence emergency managers.

It said recent devastating earthquakes and tsunamis meant many Bay coastal communities had become increasingly concerned by the prospect of a tsunami.

This was despite volcanic eruptions easily topping the risk list of the Bay's high priority hazards by scoring 4.8, the only hazard to rank in the "major" category of seriousness.

No hazards reached a five or catastrophic risk.

The rest of the region's civil defence priorities were rated as moderate or minor risks. A moderate risk scored in the threes while a hazard ranked as minor scored in the twos.

"While a local tsunami is considered to be quite serious, a distant tsunami is rated 3.2 on the seriousness scale, which is relatively low," the report said.

A local tsunami was ranked 3.5, or third on the seriousness scale.

The second highest risk was flooding of the Rangitaiki River in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. It scored 3.8. Coastal storms, an animal disease epidemic, a human pandemic and rural fire were all ranked at 3.4.

A strong earthquake, which caused objects to fall from walls and shelves and slight non-structural damage, was ranked 3.3 on the seriousness scale.

That's the same ranking given to an earthquake on the North Island's fault line that destroyed weak buildings and damaged others.

Bottom of the high priority hazards were biological pests and new organisms (2.4) and a major air accident in Rotorua, also rated at 2.4.

Coastal erosion and heavy rainfall were given a moderate priority by Civil Defence, scoring 2.2 for seriousness of risk.

The report appeared to have been written before the recent eruption of Mt Tongariro and the weak eruption of White Island, which discharged a black ash-charged plume.

Neither did it mention the May 2005 Tauranga storm which triggered a civil defence emergency and led to widespread slips and property damage in parts of the city.

However, Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby, speaking after Friday's meeting of the emergency management committee, said the storm was the first time a civil defence emergency had been declared in Tauranga.

Mr Crosby said the key thing to come out of the meeting was the adoption of the Bay's Regional Civil Defence Emergency Plan.

"We are vulnerable to just about everything that you can imagine in the Bay, barring hurricanes," he said.

A study on emergency preparedness in the Bay had identified where improvements were needed and the region's Civil Defence budget had been doubled.

Civil Defence was filling positions left vacant by staff resigning to go and work in Christchurch.

"There has been a vast improvement in resourcing to action that plan, particularly in the next two years," Mr Crosby said.

A major new initiative, one of the lessons from Christchurch, was to engage more with the community.

The focus in Tauranga was on the coastal suburbs that were most vulnerable to a tsunami.

"When an event happens, they will have to look after themselves in the short term," Mr Crosby said.

White Island eruption fears

[link to www.sunlive.co.nz]
images and video

Hydrothermal activity is increasing at White Island which could be the start of an eruptive process, says GNS volcanologist Brad Scott.

The volcanologist visited the island volcano off the Bay of Plenty coast on Monday following reports of increased activity from tour operators, and a rise in activity showing on the island seismometer.

“Unrest has increased and this could go one of two ways,” says Brad today.
“It could fizzle out and go away, or it could lead into the next eruption. It’s a 50:50 call either way at the moment.”
The activity is the strongest Brad has seen since the late 90s, which led to a large eruption in 2000, says Brad.
"The hydrothermal activity is some of the most vigorous I have seen at White Island for many years. This type of activity usually leads to stronger volcanic activity and is a significant concern.
"Increases in hydrothermal activity often lead to explosive eruptions and that can be quite dangerous for visitors."
The eruption on August 5, 2012 threw a few rocks out which could have affected people if they had been there, says Brad.
White Island is 49km north of Whakatane, and about 321 metres above sea level. Its full height is about 760 metres above the sea floor. The visible part of the submarine volcano is 2.4 km by 2km. It’s footprint on the seafloor is 14km by 16km.
It is New Zealand’s most active volcano, but its eruptions do not affect the mainland, says Brad.
Ash from the volcano has in the past been mistaken for pollen and goes unnoticed by most people.
The likelihood of the mainland being affected by an eruption through a tsunami would be minimal.
A tsunami study done by the University of Waikato found the wave that reached the Bay of Plenty beaches would be about knee high.
“They looked at the tsunami more so from the land slide risk,” says Brad.
“If there was an eruption induced land slide it clearly demonstrated there was no significant risk to the coast.”
Brad says what he viewed yesterday is increased hydrothermal activity in the small ’hot lake’. Large amounts of sediment have surfaced and vivid white steam and gas was flashing from the base.
This sort of activity has been increasing since late 2012 and is now semi-continuous, says Scott.
The lava dome first noticed in late November has not changed since earlier this month.

80% of Bay people not prepared for disaster

[link to www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz]

Four out of five Tauranga people are not prepared for a natural disaster, according to a Bay of Plenty Times survey.

Of the 250 people surveyed, only 20 per cent said they had an evacuation plan in place and just 29 per cent had put together a survival kit.

Most feared a tsunami (57 per cent) or an earthquake (31 per cent), with floods and eruptions being less of a perceived threat (14 and 13 per cent, respectively).

The Bay of Plenty Times carried out the survey following the release of maps this week by the Bay's emergency management group showing the devastating reach of a large-scale tsunami in the region.

Based on tsunami that have hit the Western Bay's coastline during the past 4000 years, the maps showed that 19,000 homes and 2000 commercial properties would be affected if an "extreme" (6.75m surge) tsunami hit, forcing 35,000 people to flee for their lives.

Emergency manager group controller Warwick Murray said people in the Bay were ill prepared and there was "still a long way to go".

"We can't afford to be complacent and we want to see a significant improvement," he added.

"The purpose of releasing the maps was not to scare people but to raise awareness ... it's one of those things that people don't really want to think about but it's really important that we do."

Mr Murray said while there were strategies in place to predict potential tsunami threats, the region did not have a "definitive" evacuation plan.

The current procedure was to alert people through the media, predominantly radio, to go to the nearest highest ground.

If there was no high ground to go to, then people should move further inland.

Proposals for an early warning system along the coast were to be put before the Tauranga City Council by November.

A total of $1.4m has been budgeted in Environment Bay of Plenty's 10 Year Plan for this system.

Civil Defence Emergency Management has calculated there is a one in 682 probability of a worst-case (4m) tsunami hitting the Bay's coastline in any one year.

Geological records show that the last tsunami to top 5m happened about 650 years ago, with the previous tsunami of that scale about 1900 years earlier. Smaller tsunami of between 1m and 3m have been recorded between 1868 and 1960.

There are a number of local and regional sources that could result in a tsunami. These include volcanism in the Tonga/Kermadec system, landslides in the Hikurangi Trough, eruption of Mayor Island, fault movement within the offshore Taupo Volcanic Zone and slope failures on White and Whale Islands.

A tsunami is one of four natural hazards identified by Civil Defence as being most likely to result in a state of emergency being declared in the Bay of Plenty, the other three being an earthquake, volcanic eruption or flood.

The Bay of Plenty is one of the most seismically active areas in New Zealand.

An earthquake that was felt widely but caused only minor damage could be expected every 10 years, a moderate to strong earthquake every 42 years and an earthquake causing serious damage every 150-180 years.

The Taupo Volcanic Zone, that spans from Mt Ruapehu to White Island, also put Bay people in danger of volcanic eruptions, which were likely to affect the population within any one person's lifetime.

Mr Murray said in terms of frequency, flooding was the most likely natural disaster to affect the region.

"You have to look at a combination of severity and likelihood. Generally it (flooding) doesn't have a massive impact on infrastructure across the region.

"The potential impact of a volcanic eruption is huge but the likelihood of that happening tomorrow is slim."

do you want some?

yes please!!

we have very thick, heavy cloud, but not rain

New Zealand: Vigorous hydrothermal activity at White Island, Tongariro in heightened state of unrest

[link to thewatchers.adorraeli.com]
images and graphs

White Island – Vigorous hydrothermal activity reported

In GeoNet’s Volcanic Alert Bulletin issued on January 22, 2013 GNS Science Volcanologist Brad Scott writes his report after visiting White Island on January 21st to assess the increased level of volcanic unrest:

Observations confirmed that hydrothermal activity in the small ‘hot lake’ has increased. The most common activity is “doming-up” of the lake surface by steam/gas, bringing large amounts of sediment to the surface, often with vivid white steam/gas ‘flashing’ from around the base. Every so often stronger events happened. This activity has been increasing since late 2012 and is now semi-continuous.

The state of unrest at White Island is increasing and future eruptions are possible with little or no warning. The increased level of unrest does mean that there is a hazard to visitors. Past activity indicates that eruptions, such as that which occurred on 5 August 2012, could occur with little or no warning, even when the Alert Level is 1 (volcanic unrest). Caution should be exercised when visiting the island.

“The hydrothermal activity is some of the most vigorous I have seen at White Island for many years. This type of activity usually leads to stronger volcanic activity and is a significant concern”, Brad Scott, GNS Science Volcanologist

About White Island

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. (GVP)

Tongariro in heightened state of unrest

Meanwhile, according to Volcanic Alert Bulletin dated January 14, 2013 Tongariro continues to be in a heightened state of unrest and eruptions could occur with little or no precursors.

GNS Science volcanologists Craig Miller and Brad Scott wrote:

Te Maari craters at Mount Tongariro, the site of eruptions in August and November 2012, continue to be active with continuous emissions of steam and volcanic gas. Emission of a steam and gas plume has been a continuous feature of the mountain since the August 2012 eruption. The gas is coming from a large fumarole and crack in a cliff just east of the Upper Te Maari crater. The main Upper Te Maari crater is also discharging gas but at a lesser rate. Fumaroles associated with a fissure farther to the east have declined and are no longer easily visible.

Volcanic gas from the plume may continue to be smelt in areas downwind of the volcano. GNS Science volcanologists will be making gas measurements at the next available opportunity to compare to those made at the end of December 2012, however recent visual observations show that the emissions are on-going and sustained. Observers of the mountain may notice that emissions appear to be stronger on some days than others, which is due to a combination of variability in the degassing rate and atmospheric conditions which make the plume more visible on some days. GNS head volcanologist Gill Jolly said “gas and steam emissions from the volcano will continue to be a feature of the mountain for several years to come.”

Aerial observations at the end of 2012 showed that a large amount of material had in-filled the Upper Te Maari crater as part of the 21 November 2012 eruption, however the main shape of the crater had not changed.

Seismicity has remained relatively low with no earthquakes yet recorded beneath the mountain in 2013.

Tongariro continues to be in a heightened state of unrest and eruptions could occur with little or no precursors.

The Volcano Alert Level remains at 1 and the Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow.

About Tongariro

Tongariro is a large andesitic volcanic massif, located immediately NE of Ruapehu volcano, that is composed of more than a dozen composite cones constructed over a period of 275,000 years. Vents along a NE-trending zone extending from Saddle Cone (below Ruapehu volcano) to Te Mari crater (including vents at the present-day location of Ngauruhoe) were active during a several hundred year long period around 10,000 years ago, producing the largest known eruptions at the Tongariro complex during the Holocene. North Crater stratovolcano, one of the largest features of the massif, is truncated by a broad, shallow crater filled by a solidified lava lake that is cut on the NW side by a small explosion crater. The youngest cone of the complex, Ngauruhoe, has grown to become the highest peak of the massif since its birth about 2500 years ago. The symmetrical, steep-sided Ngauruhoe, along with its neighbor Ruapehu to the south, have been New Zealand’s most active volcanoes during historical time. (GVP)

White Island, come and dive alongside an active volcano

Dates: Friday, 11 January 2013 to Sunday, 13 January 2013 Cost: $550

[link to www.scubadiving.co.nz]

We are headed to White Island to explore what is certain to be on of NZ’s best diving destination. Often compared to the Poor Knight’s (except with bigger fish) don’t miss you chance to join us on what is going to be the first of many trips up there. We leave Tauranga at approx 5-6 pm and arrive at White Island at 11-12 pm where we anchor for the night. The next morning it’s up at 7 ish for breakfast and then off diving.
There are some great dive spots around ‘White’ and the ‘Volkner Rocks’, these include ‘Homestead Reef’ (one of NZ’s top ten dives), ‘Laison’s Reef’, Volkner Rocks’and lots more. We can cover many of them on the first day. At the end of the day we find a calm anchorage and settle down to dinner, a relaxing drink or two and or a night dive.
The next day up again at 7ish for breakfast and off for a dive around the Island. After the first or second dive we begin our return trip back to Tauranga which we can break up with a dive at ‘Astrolabe Reef’ or visit the seal colony at ‘Plate Island’. We get back into Tauranga at around 5-6 pm.
Back to trips list

Polar mesospheric clouds over South Pacific Ocean

[link to thewatchers.adorraeli.com]
photos, images and links

Polar mesospheric clouds—also known as noctilucent or “night shining” clouds—form between 76 to 85 kilometers (47 to 53 miles) above the Earth’s surface, near the boundary of the mesosphere and thermosphere, a region known as the mesopause. At these altitudes, water vapor can freeze into clouds of ice crystals. When the Sun is below the horizon and the ground is in darkness, these high clouds may still be illuminated, lending them their ethereal, “night shining” qualities.

Polar mesospheric clouds have been observed from all human vantage points in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres—from the surface, in aircraft, and from the International Space Station (ISS) —and tend to be most visible during the late spring and early summer. Some atmospheric scientists seek to understand their mechanisms of formation, while others have identified them as potential indicators of atmospheric changes resulting from increases in greenhouse gas concentrations.

This astronaut photograph was taken when the ISS was over the Pacific Ocean south of French Polynesia. While most polar mesospheric cloud images are taken from the ISS with relatively short focal length lenses (to maximize the field of view), this image was taken with a long lens (400 mm) allowing for additional detail of the cloud forms. Below the brightly-lit noctilucent clouds, across the center of the image, the pale orange band is the stratosphere.

wow, look at this swarm of quakes from 18th-20th january, near gisborne

3.3 13:20:55 Sun 20 Jan 2013 Depth: 16.2 km

3.6 12:21:20 Sun 20 Jan 2013 Depth: 18.8 km

3.4 11:58:26 Sun 20 Jan 2013 Depth: 22.0 km

3.4 09:25:39 Sun 20 Jan 2013 Depth: 15.6 km

3.5 13:07:10 Sat 19 Jan 2013 Depth: 18.6 km

3.6 12:34:54 Sat 19 Jan 2013 Depth: 22.5 km

3.2 11:15:46 Fri 18 Jan 2013 Depth: 18.4 km

map to see location
[link to quakemap.co.nz]

White Island activity could lead to large eruption- GNS

[link to tvnz.co.nz]

Volcanic activity at White Island is the most "vigorous" in years and could mean a large explosive eruption is imminent, GNS Science says.

The volcano, off the Bay of Plenty coast, is the country's most active and showed heightened signs of unrest last year.

But it is the increased hydrothermal activity in the last three weeks which is of "significant concern", GNS vulcanologist Brad Scott says.

"I don't think I've seen anything this strong since the late 90s and 2000s."

The activity then led to a large eruption in July, 2000.

"The hydrothermal activity is some of the most vigorous I have seen at White Island for many years. This type of activity usually leads to stronger volcanic activity and is a significant concern," Scott said.

"Increases in hydrothermal activity often leads to explosive eruptions and that can be quite dangerous for visitors."

The activity may mean an eruption is imminent, but there is also a chance it could cease.

The volcano poses no threat to the mainland, however, as it is 48 kilometres from shore.

But White Island is a popular tourist attraction, with boat and flight tours heading there daily.

If it does explode, ash may reach the mainland and Bay of Plenty locals might smell gas, Scott says.

Scott's observations were based on a visit to the island yesterday.

Hydrothermal activity in the small 'hot lake' had increased, large amounts of sediment had surfaced and vivid white steam and gas was flashing from the base.

This was the sort of activity that had been increasing since late 2012 and was now semi-continuous, Scott says.

The lava dome that was first observed in late November has not changed since earlier this month.

There were elevated levels of volcanic tremors, likely generated by the hydrothermal activity, Scott says.

As usual, the volcano could erupt with little or no warning.

the latest nz 3.0+ mag quakes

4.1 05:10:54 Thu 24 Jan 2013 Depth: 33.0 km

3.1 23:49:05 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 5.1 km

3.1 23:43:23 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 14.6 km

3.1 13:24:16 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 300.8 km

3.4 07:12:33 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 90.7 km

3.2 06:21:24 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 9.5 km

3.3 05:19:01 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 115.6 km

3.7 05:17:54 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 341.6 km

3.1 02:31:52 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 264.9 km

3.6 00:45:41 Wed 23 Jan 2013 Depth: 215.9 km

3.3 16:39:33 Tue 22 Jan 2013 Depth: 9.7 km

4.3 10:33:39 Tue 22 Jan 2013 Depth: 288.4 km

3.1 09:13:27 Tue 22 Jan 2013 Depth: 7.3 km

4.1 04:44:56 Tue 22 Jan 2013 Depth: 291.2 km

3.1 00:31:29 Tue 22 Jan 2013 Depth: 94.5 km

3.0 23:48:38 Mon 21 Jan 2013 Depth: 5.2 km

3.3 18:51:50 Mon 21 Jan 2013 Depth: 225.1 km

4.0 02:11:21 Mon 21 Jan 2013 Depth: 524.8 km

4.4 04:36:05 Mon 21 Jan 2013 Depth: 13.9 km

4.0 02:11:21 Mon 21 Jan 2013 Depth: 524.8 km

4.6 21:15:08 Sat 19 Jan 2013 Depth: 11.8 km

4.2 16:37:55 Sat 19 Jan 2013 Depth: 8.5 km

4.7 05:00:25 Sat 19 Jan 2013 Depth: 92.8 km

4.7 05:00:25 Sat 19 Jan 2013 Depth: 92.8 km

4.0 19:13:22 Thu 17 Jan 2013 Depth: 470.0 km

4.5 08:04:51 Wed 16 Jan 2013 Depth: 212.9 km

map to see quake locations
[link to quakemap.co.nz]

[link to info.geonet.org.nz]
Volcanic Alert Bulletin WI-2013/3 - White Island Volcano
24 January 2013, 4:00pm - Volcanic unrest increases, Aviation Colour Code changed to Orange.
Over the last 20-30 hours the style of seismic activity at White Island has changed. The level of volcanic tremor has started to decrease, but hybrid volcanic earthquakes have appeared. Hybrid earthquakes are typically associated with the movement of molten material (magma) within an active volcano. This change in activity is consistent with an increase in the level of unrest; hence the Aviation Colour Code has been lifted to Orange...

when they say 'it poses no threat to the mainland', think the opposite.

how can they actually SAY that? this part of the world is known for supervolcanic eruptions, and however minuscule the possibility, the chances are not zero it could threaten the mainland.

"It marks the northern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone."

Taupo is a freaking SUPER VOLCANO on par with Yellow Stone !
Other volcanoes include Tongariro, Ruapheu and Ngauruhoe.
Tongariro also erupted in 2012 after 100 years of quietness !

This is very bad / catastrophic whatever way you look at it.

Pray the current White Island volcano dies down because if White Island goes then Tongariro and the other Central Plateau Volcanoes mentioned above will follow.

IMHO, It would be beyond anyone's worst nightmare !

[link to www.gns.cri.nz]

we all know one of these going off would be VERY bad for everyone. we all know our govs are living as if they don't give a fuck any more, as if they KNOW something is coming

the event that nearly wiped us all out, 74000 years ago, the only REALISTIC threat to us, an event that TRIGGERS Ice Ages, THAT imho, is the only credible threat. not nuke wars (although i do believe they will cull 3/4 of us before it happens to make us more 'manageable'), or asteroid/comet strikes, or pandemics, no none of that bullshit.

SUPERVOLCANO.

Now, where on the planet do we have a super volcanic complex playing up at this very moment? Is there an area of the planet, racked by large EQs, and large rumbling volcanoes, plagued by swarms of Eqs, some of them very deep?

hmmm, it's a mystery, eh?

Thread: The storms continue to UK!!! (Page 3)

Indonesia

Volcano Activity in New Zealand on Tuesday, 22 January, 2013 at 04:04 (04:04 AM) UTC.

Back

Updated: Friday, 25 January, 2013 at 04:22 UTC
Description
Shifting magma within the White Island crater has prompted scientists to upgrade aviation alerts for pilots flying near the active volcano. GNS Science vulcanologist Gill Jolly said while volcanic tremors within the crater had decreased, "hybrid volcanic earthquakes" have started to appear. Hybrid earthquakes were associated with moving, molten magma and heightened unrest. "Visitors to White Island are now at the highest level of risk since the start of the 2012 eruptions," Jolly said. "Hazards to visitors can include the health effects of volcanic gas exposure, including respiratory issues, skin and eye sensitivity to acid gases. "Explosive eruptions can occur at any time with little or no warning. We advise a high level of caution should be taken, if visiting the island." Scientists are hoping a monthly flight over White Island to sample volcanic gases will give them a clearer picture of what is happening inside the increasingly restive volcano.

Vulcanologist Brad Scott visited the island earlier this week and found hydrothermal activity in the small crater lake was some of the most vigorous he had seen since the late 1990s or early this century. "This type of activity usually leads to stronger volcanic activity and is a significant concern," he said. GNS Science said the state of unrest at White Island was increasing and future eruptions were possible with little or no warning. Scott hoped the next monthly gas monitoring flight, due tomorrow provided weather conditions were right, would add more pieces of the puzzle to help understand what the volcano was up to. "The flight measured the amount of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and sulphur dioxide above the volcano. Those levels were compared to previous levels," he said. If the gas levels were increasing it could indicate an increase in the amount of molten material coming into the volcano, or that the molten material there was moving shallower, Scott said. But "it's a very complex story", and scientists took a range of other factors into account, including surface activity, seismic activity, and ground deformation, to build up a picture of how a volcano was behaving. It was thought the activity on White Island was driven purely by steam, but if the gas monitoring results turned up something unexpected it could indicate that was not the case. Scott said that in a geothermal system the temperature was just a little over 100 degrees Celsius, while with a magmatic system it could get up to 800C or 900C.
[link to hisz.rsoe.hu]

Hey T, off-topic, but do you have any thoughts to the idea that Australia and NZ are farther North than they used to be? I think I saw a thread about this once, and me too, I culda swore back in my school years they were both lower on the map, but idk.

anyway, hope you're doing good. stay in touch!

Let's not forget, last year or the year before (I forget), Florida airport repainted their directional lines for the planes

White Island eruption increasingly likely

January 25, 2013 – NEW ZEALAND - A White Island eruption looks increasingly likely, with increased signs of volcanic activity and nearly continuous tremors.

[link to theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com]

Thread: 989 mb Explosively Developing Low over Chicago early Wed!!! TWO DEATHS CONFIRMED!!!! Compared with cleveland superbomb

Heya T

Hope you are well please check in
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