Massey volcanologists take ash samples from Tongariro

A team of Massey volcanologists has completed collecting ash samples following yesterday’s eruption of Mount Tongariro.

Dr Marco Brenna and PhD student Rafael Torres-Ortez have spent the last 24-hours at the mountain taking measurements and samples.

After the most recent eruption in August, Massey’s Volcanic Risk Solutions Group director Professor Shane Cronin said it was likely Tongariro would erupt again soon after finding low levels of fresh glass in the ash.

Yesterday’s eruption, shortly after 1.30pm, sent a plume of ash into the skies.

Massey University scientists will analyse the ash samples at the Manawatu campus over the coming days to learn more about what type of eruption it was.