VIDEO: Mt Tongariro eruption captured on film
By:Natsumi Penberthy
| November-22-2012
AGO and the 90 Seconds doco team filmed the unexpected volcanic eruption of Mt Tongariro, NZ.
VIDEO Video courtesy of Tim Flower/90 Seconds AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC OUTDOOR EDITOR Justin Walker and senior contributor Amy Russell were on assignment with New Zealand production crew, 90 Seconds, when Mt Tongariro dramatically erupted behind them as the cameras were rolling.
They had just reached the Emerald Lakes, about halfway along on the Tongariro Crossing, when the Te Maari crater blew out a 4km-high mushroom of ash and gas. It was only the second eruption of Mount Tongariro in over 100 years.
Surprise video footage of volcano erupting
"A GNS volcanologist had just finished telling us that there was an extremely low chance of an eruption when it blew," Amy says. Reports are now suggesting there might be another eruption in the next couple of days.
A lack of debris scatter meant there was little danger to the hundreds of hikers within spitting distance. At the time of eruption visitors were able to walk towards the eruption for a better look, but the walking track was quickly closed.
Second Tongariro eruption this year The last time Tongariro eupted was on August 6 this year. Rob Franklin, who guides Walking Legends tours along the Tongariro Crossing, says the August eruption would have been more dangerous if it had occurred during peak season. Because it was winter, there was no-one around to risk being hit with debris.
Because Mount Ruapehu is the most monitored volcano in the world, Rob says the area is well supplied with information about activity. "They're mostly just a great spectacle, not so much impending doom," he says.
Amy says a broadcast on New Zealand radio soon after the eruption depicted the excitement of the local Maori population. "They were talking about how excited they were that the mountain was alive, powerful," she says. "They were just beside themselves." RELATED ARTICLES Giant pumice island floats in the Pacific Submarine volcano grows at record rate On this day: Krakatau's massive volcanic eruption Mt Warning: early volcano warning Volcanic eruption long overdue in Australia 10 biggest earthquakes in history South Australia's biggest earthquake in 115 years On this day in history: Newcastle earthquake strikes Earthquake-proofing Australian buildings? Boil water to charge your mobile after an earthquake Most destructive tsunamis in history Breath detector to help find earthquake survivors NZ earthquake caused by unknown faultline Australia: land of earthquakes and volcanoes The biggest cyclones in recorded history How the Japanese tsunami travelled Amazing tsunami videos WA quake may have been manmade Toads have inbuilt earthquake warning system Tsunamis: how they form Earthquake caused glacier to crumble ...More earthquake stories
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