Knowledge

Eastern Ruapehu Lahar Alarm and Warning System

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dam collapsed, causing a lahar which flowed down the mountain and into the Whangaehu River. The ERLAWS system activated at 10:47am and worked as planned. Scientists estimate that 1.29 million cubic metres (1.29 billion litres) of sulphur and water went down the Whangaehu Valley, leaving
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surrounding the area, which alert motorists and in some cases prevent entry to the danger areas. These systems incorporate automatic barrier gates, flashing lights and electronic signs warning of
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in 1995–1996. The system successfully detected and warned of an imminent lahar in March 2007. The system is being expanded to detect the wider range of lahar threats now expected on Ruapehu.
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Following the 2007 lahar, the risks of future lahars were reassessed and judged to affect more valleys than before. The ERLAWS system will be broadened in response to the wider threat.
278: 97:. In 2000 the government decided to plan, design and implement ERLAWS – a complex system of sensors and preventative mechanisms to warn of an impending lahar. 85:. It was realised that as the lake refilled and rose above the level of its normal outlet, the tephra dam would eventually collapse, causing a large 165:
staff, and duty scientists who will then respond following predetermined plans. This alert can be up to two hours before a lahar would reach
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8.9 million cubic metres in the crater lake. This lahar was at least 50% larger than the 1953 lahar that caused the Tangiwai disaster.
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when 151 people died as the lahar swept a railway bridge away, causing a passenger train to plunge into the
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Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake Lahar Threat Response – Crater Lake issue – a management dilemma
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ERLAWS consists of three sites at which various sensors are located – these are:
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Fresh lahar channels are visible on Ruapehu's eastern slopes, 27 March 2007.
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three geophones to detect the vibration of the collapse and from lahars
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two geophones to detect the vibration from passing lahars.
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two geophones to detect the vibration from passing lahars
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water level sensors to detect a sudden drop in lake level
115:a buried tripwire to detect collapse of the dam 145:Signals from the sites are transmitted to the 39:Eastern Ruapehu Lahar Alarm and Warning System 8: 65:The 1995–1996 eruptions of Ruapehu in the 226:News report showing video of dam collapse 218: 248:Keys, Harry & Green, Paul (2004). 49:warning system that was installed on 7: 279:Emergency population warning systems 89:. Such a lahar resulted in the 1953 157:to police, district council staff, 25: 81:and rock, around the rim of the 131:Site 3 (near Tukino skifield) 1: 180:has systems installed on the 259:Next lahar may be widespread 123:Site 2 (NZ Alpine Club hut) 109:Site 1 (Crater Lake outlet) 238:YouTube video of 2007 lahar 73:left a 7-metre high dam of 300: 284:Volcanism of New Zealand 53:, New Zealand following 196:On 18 March 2007, the 34: 32: 265:, 6 September 2007. 178:Transit New Zealand 159:Transit New Zealand 55:volcanic eruptions 35: 263:The Dominion Post 149:power station at 91:Tangiwai disaster 16:(Redirected from 291: 241: 235: 229: 223: 163:KiwiRail Network 77:, consisting of 21: 299: 298: 294: 293: 292: 290: 289: 288: 269: 268: 245: 244: 236: 232: 224: 220: 215: 207: 194: 175: 173:Transit systems 143: 103: 95:Whangaehu River 63: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 297: 295: 287: 286: 281: 271: 270: 267: 266: 257:Mike Watson, " 255: 243: 242: 230: 217: 216: 214: 211: 206: 203: 193: 190: 186:flash flooding 182:State Highways 174: 171: 147:Genesis Energy 142: 139: 138: 137: 136: 135: 129: 128: 127: 121: 120: 119: 116: 113: 102: 99: 62: 59: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 296: 285: 282: 280: 277: 276: 274: 264: 260: 256: 253: 252: 247: 246: 239: 234: 231: 227: 222: 219: 212: 210: 204: 202: 199: 191: 189: 187: 183: 179: 172: 170: 168: 164: 160: 156: 152: 148: 140: 133: 132: 130: 125: 124: 122: 117: 114: 111: 110: 108: 107: 106: 100: 98: 96: 92: 88: 84: 80: 76: 72: 68: 60: 58: 56: 52: 51:Mount Ruapehu 48: 44: 40: 31: 27: 19: 262: 249: 233: 221: 208: 195: 176: 144: 104: 79:volcanic ash 67:North Island 64: 61:Introduction 42: 38: 36: 26: 83:crater lake 71:New Zealand 273:Categories 213:References 141:Monitoring 205:Expansion 167:Tangiwai 151:Tokaanu 101:Sensors 45:) is a 198:tephra 192:Events 155:pagers 75:tephra 43:ERLAWS 18:ERLAWS 87:lahar 47:lahar 37:The 261:", 69:of 275:: 188:. 169:. 161:, 240:. 228:. 41:( 20:)

Index

ERLAWS

lahar
Mount Ruapehu
volcanic eruptions
North Island
New Zealand
tephra
volcanic ash
crater lake
lahar
Tangiwai disaster
Whangaehu River
Genesis Energy
Tokaanu
pagers
Transit New Zealand
KiwiRail Network
Tangiwai
Transit New Zealand
State Highways
flash flooding
tephra
News report showing video of dam collapse
YouTube video of 2007 lahar
Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake Lahar Threat Response – Crater Lake issue – a management dilemma
Next lahar may be widespread
Categories
Emergency population warning systems
Volcanism of New Zealand

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