Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring
Abstract All historical eruptions at Ruapehu have occurred from its Crater Lake, Te Wai ā-moe. This study aims to better understand Crater Lake dynamics by using visible light and long wavelength infrared images of the lake. Over 10,000 images from 1902 – 2021 were analysed to produce a time-series...
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Volcanology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-024-00148-7 |
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| author | Charles Ching Ben Kennedy Leighton M. Watson Jim Cole Alexander R. L. Nichols Bruce Christenson Harry J. R. Keys Hollei Gabrielsen Jonathan Procter Cameron Asher Karen Britten |
| author_facet | Charles Ching Ben Kennedy Leighton M. Watson Jim Cole Alexander R. L. Nichols Bruce Christenson Harry J. R. Keys Hollei Gabrielsen Jonathan Procter Cameron Asher Karen Britten |
| author_sort | Charles Ching |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract All historical eruptions at Ruapehu have occurred from its Crater Lake, Te Wai ā-moe. This study aims to better understand Crater Lake dynamics by using visible light and long wavelength infrared images of the lake. Over 10,000 images from 1902 – 2021 were analysed to produce a time-series of lake observations. Our results show that visible light observations reveal colour changes on the entire Crater Lake surface from blue to grey, and localised grey, yellow, and black discolourations. Grey discolourations are interpreted as localised upwellings of lake-floor sediment, and yellow and black material to comprise vent-hosted sulphur/sulphides, both transported by volcanic fluids from subaqueous vents to the surface. The locations of upwellings were used to identify five vent locations beneath Crater Lake, three more vents than were previously recognised. Upwellings appeared and disappeared in 10 min. Steam above the lake surface was controlled by both lake temperature and cloud conditions. Blue lakes were most common in summer and autumn, implying a relationship with ice or snow melt entering the lake. Grey lakes were observed in the month before 97% of eruptions, suggesting a correlation between a grey lake and eruption precursors. Crater Lake processes are illustrated by three regimes. Regime 1, a vigorously convecting grey lake associated with steam, eruptions, and more frequently the high end of recorded lake temperatures (within the range of 7 – 69 °C). Regime 2, a blue lake to occasionally green that typically occurs in summer and autumn when ice or snow melt is significant and is associated with generally the low end of lake temperatures and reduced volcanic fluid input. Regime 3, a blue-grey lake, the most observed lake colour in this study and effectively a balance between volcanic and seasonal processes. We suggest that an array of cameras would be useful additions to the current volcano monitoring network at Ruapehu. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eaecc0eafbea4c469a67938b7df5bb9b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2191-5040 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Volcanology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eaecc0eafbea4c469a67938b7df5bb9b2025-08-20T02:08:24ZengBMCJournal of Applied Volcanology2191-50402024-11-0113112110.1186/s13617-024-00148-7Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoringCharles Ching0Ben Kennedy1Leighton M. Watson2Jim Cole3Alexander R. L. Nichols4Bruce Christenson5Harry J. R. Keys6Hollei Gabrielsen7Jonathan Procter8Cameron Asher9Karen Britten10School of Earth and Environment, University of CanterburySchool of Earth and Environment, University of CanterburySchool of Mathematics and Statistics, University of CanterburySchool of Earth and Environment, University of CanterburySchool of Earth and Environment, University of CanterburyNational Isotope Centre, GNS ScienceFormer Department of Conservation ScientistDepartment of ConservationSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey UniversityGNS Science, Wairakei Research CentreGNS Science, Wairakei Research CentreAbstract All historical eruptions at Ruapehu have occurred from its Crater Lake, Te Wai ā-moe. This study aims to better understand Crater Lake dynamics by using visible light and long wavelength infrared images of the lake. Over 10,000 images from 1902 – 2021 were analysed to produce a time-series of lake observations. Our results show that visible light observations reveal colour changes on the entire Crater Lake surface from blue to grey, and localised grey, yellow, and black discolourations. Grey discolourations are interpreted as localised upwellings of lake-floor sediment, and yellow and black material to comprise vent-hosted sulphur/sulphides, both transported by volcanic fluids from subaqueous vents to the surface. The locations of upwellings were used to identify five vent locations beneath Crater Lake, three more vents than were previously recognised. Upwellings appeared and disappeared in 10 min. Steam above the lake surface was controlled by both lake temperature and cloud conditions. Blue lakes were most common in summer and autumn, implying a relationship with ice or snow melt entering the lake. Grey lakes were observed in the month before 97% of eruptions, suggesting a correlation between a grey lake and eruption precursors. Crater Lake processes are illustrated by three regimes. Regime 1, a vigorously convecting grey lake associated with steam, eruptions, and more frequently the high end of recorded lake temperatures (within the range of 7 – 69 °C). Regime 2, a blue lake to occasionally green that typically occurs in summer and autumn when ice or snow melt is significant and is associated with generally the low end of lake temperatures and reduced volcanic fluid input. Regime 3, a blue-grey lake, the most observed lake colour in this study and effectively a balance between volcanic and seasonal processes. We suggest that an array of cameras would be useful additions to the current volcano monitoring network at Ruapehu.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-024-00148-7RuapehuCrater LakeUpwellingSulphurVentsVolcanic fluids |
| spellingShingle | Charles Ching Ben Kennedy Leighton M. Watson Jim Cole Alexander R. L. Nichols Bruce Christenson Harry J. R. Keys Hollei Gabrielsen Jonathan Procter Cameron Asher Karen Britten Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring Journal of Applied Volcanology Ruapehu Crater Lake Upwelling Sulphur Vents Volcanic fluids |
| title | Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring |
| title_full | Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring |
| title_fullStr | Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring |
| title_short | Observations of Ruapehu Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring |
| title_sort | observations of ruapehu crater lake te wai a moe and implications for lake dynamics and volcano monitoring |
| topic | Ruapehu Crater Lake Upwelling Sulphur Vents Volcanic fluids |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-024-00148-7 |
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