Science Media Centre

It’s no secret that Auckland sits on a large volcanic field, but new research has modelled what would happen if there was an eruption within the city limits. The study, published last week in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, considered what could happen during a hypothetical two-month-long period of unrest and eruption near […]

The eruption of the Calbuco volcano in Chile – for the first time in over 40 years –  is causing headlines around world. New Zealand coverage includes, reporting in the New Zealand Herald, Stuff.co.nz and TVNZ News. MetService has stated that the  Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, in collaboration with international partners will monitor the […]

All international flights to the small island nation of Tonga have been cancelled after the underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano sent up a huge plume of ash this week. GNS Science volcanologist Brad Scott tells TVNZ that volcanic activity has been recorded for several weeks in a stretch of ocean and islands north of the capital, Nuku’alofa, and […]

A rather unorthodox geoengineering study has examined the potential for greenhouse gases to play a positive role in humanity’s future… if  a giant volcanic ash cloud created a global winter by blocking out the sun. The paper, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, examined the potential for short-lived greenhouse gases to be used to […]

Japanese volcano Mount Ontake erupted suddenly over the weekend, when the popular recreational site was crowded with hikers, resulting in significant casualties. Rescue efforts are ongoing and the total loss of life has yet to be confirmed. Latest reports indicate over 47 deaths, with dozens more injured in the eruption. Ontake’s last major eruption was […]

Locals and holidaymakers have been evacuated from areas near the Icelandic volcano Bárðarbunga, which has been threatening to erupt for the last few days. Although Bárðarbunga (Bardarbunga) isn’t spewing magma or ash yet, scientists are concerned about what Iceland’s Meteorological Office describes as an ‘intense seismic swarm’, where they recorded some 2,600 earthquakes over the weekend and detected the strongest earthquake since 1996 on Monday morning. Previously, […]

UPDATED 10.50AM AUG 8: An explosive eruption overnight on Mount Tongariro has spread ash across the Central North Island and led to travel warnings on major highways in the region. The volcano remains at alert level 2, indicating the onset of eruptive activity and changes to indicators of unrest. GNS Science is closely monitoring the situation. […]

In response to queries from worried parents, experts has have issued an explanation of why New Zealanders don’t need to worry about health dangers from ash fall from the Chilean volcano plume. Following a number of quries from media and concerned parents and schools, experts Thomas Wilson (Natural Hazards Research Centre, University of Canterbury) with […]

A sprawling ash plume from the Chilean Volcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle, is causing disruptions to flights across the southern hemisphere. The SMC has contacted New Zealand experts for further explanation of the current situation and its impact. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. To follow up with these or other local experts, please […]

Iceland’s Grimsvotn volcano has erupted spilling ash into the atmosphere. While there is some concern that air travel could be affected, experts consider that the eruption will not cause as much disruption as Eyjafjallajökull did last year. Our colleagues at the Science Media Centre in London have rounded up commentary from scientists on the eruption […]