Volcanic ashfall predictions

Scientists from the Institute have developed computer programmes to estimate the ash that may fall from a volcanic ash plume. To model these ash falls one has to know the eruption column height, volume of ash erupted and information on the wind at various altitudes.

Each day at about 7 am, we are modelling a typical eruption from both White Island and Ruapehu volcanoes. They are made using wind data supplied by Metservice. The eruption model includes the erupted volume, the maximum eruption column height, and the settling velocity of ash particles of different sizes.

This diagram represents the expected distribution of volcanic ash should an eruption occur today.

The volcano modelled here is White Island