The cones of the volcanoes Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe (behind) on North Island, New Zealand Photo: Alamy
Posted on 11/23/2012 6:48:18 PM PST by SunkenCiv
A New Zealand volcano that featured as Mount Doom in "The Lord of the Rings" movies is in danger of erupting as pressure builds in a subterranean vent, officials have said.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) warned hikers to avoid the summit of Mount Ruapehu, saying that temperature readings by scientists indicated there was an increased risk of eruption at New Zealand's largest active volcano.
"The current situation can't continue, Ruapehu is so active that the temperatures have been going up and down a lot," DOC volcanic risk manager Harry Keys told Radio New Zealand...
Official monitoring body GNS Science said the temperature a few hundred metres below a lake in the crater of the North Island mountain was estimated at 800 degrees Celsius (1,472 Fahrenheit) but the temperature at the lake itself was just 20C (68F).
It said this indicated a vent was partially blocked, leading to increased pressure that made eruptions more likely "over the next weeks to months".
The 2,797-metre (9,177-foot) mountain last erupted in 2007, sending a lahar -- a fast-moving stream of mud and debris -- down the mountain but causing no injuries.
In 1953, a massive lahar from the mountain caused New Zealand's worst rail disaster when it washed away a bridge at Tangiwai and a passenger train plunged into the Whangaehu River, claiming 151 lives.
Director Peter Jackson used Mount Ruapehu and the neighbouring Mount Ngauruhoe to depict Mount Doom in "The Lord of the Rings" movies.
Another nearby volcano, Mount Tongariro, erupted in August this year, sending a plume of ash 20,000 feet (6,100 metres) into the atmosphere, showering the North Island and disrupting domestic air travel.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The cones of the volcanoes Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe (behind) on North Island, New Zealand Photo: Alamy
Thanks gleeaikin for sending this one earlier:
New Zealand volcano erupts; dozens of hikers safe
By NICK PERRY | Associated Press — Wed, Nov 21, 2012
http://news.yahoo.com/zealand-volcano-erupts-dozens-hikers-safe-034342703.html
Mount Tongariro site:freerepublic.com
Thanks renfield and gleeaikin.
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December 21, 2012?
Be sure to ping Frodo.
-PJ
They started filming THE SOUND OF MUSIC here. Julie Andrews got in, “The hills are alive”, and the volcano went off and blew her across the valley. She was ready for MARY POPPINS after that.
The only way to stop it is to throw Elijah Wood into the caldera. It’s worth a shot anyway.
Nice Volcano Cam pics here. (three cams)
http://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano/info/ruapehu
that’s very cool they have the reading showing seismic activity over last 24 hours.
it’s nice to visit (by webcam) places i’ll never see.
I had found several sites some time ago (unfortunately no longer bookmarked) but looked at webcams of everything from Swiss Chalets to various cities. It’s a bit like window shopping lol
it is. one day i put on the fan, and ramped up a drive along the highway along the Keys.
See? It was a bad idea for them Hobbits to throw that stupid ring into the lava without an environmental impact study!
You can even see the raspberry filling...
I’m not afraid.
It’s not like it’s ghosts, dogs or registered mail.
I don’t know if this gas explosion in Springfield counts as Catastrophism, but thought I would send it along anyway.
http://news.yahoo.com/gas-blast-levels-mass-buildings-least-18-hurt-021618277.html
thx.
Thanks machogirl.
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