White Island Volcano Eruption Increased
懷特島火山噴發增加
2012-08-02
訪客被警告離開爆發中的火山
Visitors warned off erupting volcano
PALOMA MIGONE
Last updated 19:01 06/08/2012
White Island volcano has erupted, prompting GNS Science to advise visitors to take extra care.
懷特島火山已爆發，促使GNS科學建議訪客要格外小心。
The island, located about 50 kilometres off the coast of Whakatane, is an active volcano and a popular tourist spot.
該島位於卡塔尼海岸外約50公里，是一座活火山及著名的旅遊景點。
Its web camera captured the small eruption from Crater Lake, GNS Science volcanologist Michael Ronsenberg said.
網絡攝像頭捕捉了來自火山口湖的小噴發，GNS科學火山學家邁克爾Ronsenberg說。
"These phenomena are not unknown for While Island, but this is the first substantial confirmation that small scale eruptions are now occurring on the island and confirms the risk to visitors has increased," he said.
“懷特島的這些現象並不陌生，但是第一次的實質性確認，小規模的噴發現正發生在島上和確認了對遊客的風險增加，”他說。
"Eruptions can occur at any time with little or no warning. We advise extra caution should be taken, if visiting the island."
GNS has changed the volcano's code from "experiencing signs of elevated unrest above known background levels" to "volcanic eruption is underway with no or minor ash emissions".
The alert level has also changed from one to two due to "minor eruptive activity".
It follows a code change last week when scientists discovered water levels in Crater Lake rose by about 3m to 5m overnight and the number of tremors had increased.
There was a particularly stronger seismic episode recorded Sunday morning, ending in a volcanic earthquake at 4.54am that day.
Rosenberg said: "[The earthquake] had a sound signal, which meant something happened on the surface. So we went back and looked at the camera images."
"Obviously being at night time, there was no visual observations and initially we weren't able to determine what that small event was.
"But we've narrowed it down and recognise that there has been full hydrothermal eruption."
Rosenberg said there had not been any further eruptions, and the number of tremors had decreased.
"It's now at similar levels to before the weekend."
GNS Science was "paying close attention" to the volcano as the last "gentle eruption" had been in early 2001.
White Island also experienced a "moderate-sized explosion" in July 2000, when fresh lava was pushed out.
"In the past this kind of activity has increased to small eruptions that produce ash, and that ash could drift as far as the mainland," Rosenberg said.
"We can't predict what the volcano is going to do and we are not making any forecasts, but yes, it's certainly possible that the activity could ramp up again."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/7425606/Visitors-warned-off-erupting-volcano
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