Lightning seen around erupting New Zealand's White Island volcano

August 10, 2012 – NEW ZEALAND – Flashes of lightning have been reported coming from White Island as the volcano continues to erupt since Sunday. White Island, which lies 48 kilometers off the Bay of Plenty coast, was raised to a Volcanic Alert Level 2 after a surveillance camera captured a small eruption from its crater last week. Whakatane Police said they received a number of calls reporting lightning of different colours since just after 7pm. GNS visited the island, which is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, this morning and confirmed it was still erupting with a 300 metre plume of ash spewing from the crater. GNS scientist Michael Rosenberg said volcanic lightning is quite common and is a result of ash generating static electricity. There were also reports this afternoon of ash falling on Papamoa, which is on the coast near Tauranga. “It is extremely fine, but it’s visible on cars,” said Carol Congalton. GNS scientist Brad Scott said “A relatively new vent seems to have formed at the back of the crater lake and it’s a very open vent and volcanic ash has been emitted from that.” The Aviation Colour Code remains at orange, meaning the volcano is “exhibiting heightened unrest.” The volcano’s first ash eruption since 2001 poses the highest level of risk for visitors to the island, GNS said, but it is not a threat to the mainland. GNS advises visitors to take a high level of caution, with possible health risks including ash and acid gas exposure, respiratory issues, and skin and eye sensitivity to acid gases. Scientists said the eruption could last a few days or weeks, or like the last one, which erupted for 25 years. –TVNZ

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