Volcanic Alert Level

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In New Zealand, Volcano Alert Bulletins (VABs) are the official source of warnings and alerts including current Volcanic Alert Level (VAL), [1] intended to inform stakeholder agencies, authorities, and the public about emergencies so they can take action.

Contents

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, through The National Emergency Management Agency is responsible for providing such alerts to warn about natural hazards. [2] A Scientific Alert Level is applied to the Volcano Status based on Indicative Phenomena. GNS Science operates the national geological hazards monitoring network (GeoNet). [3]

Levels

The Volcanic Alert Level system has six levels ranging from 5 (major volcanic eruption) to 0 (no volcanic activity): [4]

Volcanic Alert LevelVolcanic ActivityMost likely hazardsExample
5Major volcanic eruptionEruption hazards on and beyond volcano
4Moderate volcanic eruptionEruption hazards on and near volcano 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption
3Minor volcanic eruptionEruption hazards near vent
2Moderate to heightened volcanic unrestVolcanic unrest hazards, potential for eruption hazardsWhakaari / White Island in 2019 before eruption [5] [6]
1Minor volcanic unrestVolcanic unrest hazards
0No volcanic unrestVolcanic environment hazards

Elsewhere

To help prevent harm when living or working on or near a volcano, countries have adopted classifications to describe the various levels and stages of volcanic activity, the two main volcano warning systems being colour codes and/or numeric alert levels. [7]

The three common popular classifications of volcanoes can be subjective, and some volcanoes thought to have been extinct have erupted again.

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References

  1. GeoNet: Volcanic Alert Bulletins
  2. www.civildefence.govt.nz Civil Defence Emergency Management Alerts and Warnings
  3. GeoNet: Whakaari/White Island – Updates
  4. "GeoNet About Volcanic Alert Levels".
  5. "Volcanic alert level rises on White Island". Radio New Zealand. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  6. Volcanic Alert Bulletin WI – 2019/18
  7. 1 2 "Volcanic Alert Levels of Various Countries". Volcanolive.com. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  8. The Sydney Morning Herald Mount Agung volcano alert in Bali downgraded

Volcanic Alert Level Summary
Whakaari/White Island Alert Level