Scott, B.J.; McLeod, J.T.; Luketina, K.M.; Barber, J.; Harvey, M.C.; Keam, R.F. 2017 May 2016 Mud Rift hydrothermal eruption : data and observations. Lower Hutt, N.Z.: GNS Science. GNS Science report 2016/59 26 p.; doi: 10.21420/G2W88Z
Abstract: Late in May 2016 a small hydrothermal eruption had recently occurred at the Mud Rift within Raupo Pond Crater at Waimangu. The last known eruptive activity from here was in May 1981 when two new vents were created in a similar eruption. The eruption is likely to have occurred between 13th and 19th May 2016 with eruptive activity confined to two of the three vents present. The eruption deposits and damage to vegetation indicate a single event of short duration. The May 2016 eruption followed a period of high stand in Inferno Crater Lake and occurred as the crater lake was starting to recover from a period of recession. There does not appear to be any useful short term changes apparent in the available data that could be used to indicate the potential for this style of eruption. This report presents background information, post eruption observations, unmanned aerial vehicle photography, data from hydrological monitoring stations maintained by the GeoNet project, Bay of Plenty and Waikato Regional Councils, local earthquake activity and a summary. (auth)
