This morning was our last day in Ohope. As we packed up our bags early around 6:45am, we were excited to finally be able to head out to White Island since the weather was nice enough to allow a voyage there. After a fairly short hour and fifteen minute ferry ride, we anchored about 30 meters from shore. After being given hard helmets and gas masks, we were fully prepared to invade the Island of White. We boarded a small dingy with hard hats on en route to the shore, where we were greeted by our island guide Fiona.
Once on solid ground, we began the gradual ascent towards the crater of the White Island volcano. We stopped at two locations on the way towards the crater, looking at places in the ground where steam was coming from the ground that was either bubbling in pools or flowing from holes in the ground. In addition, we also observed seismographs and webcams that GNS scientists had placed to monitor the activity of the volcano.
We learned that the Taupo Volcanic Zone is one of the most active silicic volcanic regions on earth. This specific volcano had erupted twice in the last few years; however, we were not fortunate/unfortunate enough to witness an eruption while we were there. Our guide Fiona also chipped away part of a sulfur mound for us to taste, which was very salty.
As we left the crater to head back to the boat, we tasted different streams of water running off the volcano: where one was around 40 degrees celsius and tasted acidic, the other about 10 meters away was closer to 30 degrees celsius and tasted much closer to the water we drink regularly. Upon arrival to the mainland, we hopped in the car to drive towards Rotorua for our next outpost that we will call home for a few days.
After arriving in Rotorua, we had a discussion about the central Taupo Volcanic Zone’s history, delving into Guil’s personal research. We learned about the necessity of volcanic geothermal systems as they relate to the creation of life. Guil showed us findings he made on his first Maymester trip to New Zealand with the help of two undergraduate students. This lengthy, yet informative, lecture left us with steep appetites that we were able to appease by venturing into downtown Rotorua. There students split up dining at restaurants that appealed to their specific tastes.
Well informed and well fed we returned to the hotel with anticipation for what our new location would provide us in the way of geological findings.
Signing off
~ Henry and Big Low
As we left the crater to head back to the boat, we tasted different streams of water running off the volcano: where one was around 40 degrees celsius and tasted acidic, the other about 10 meters away was closer to 30 degrees celsius and tasted much closer to the water we drink regularly. Upon arrival to the mainland, we hopped in the car to drive towards Rotorua for our next outpost that we will call home for a few days.
After arriving in Rotorua, we had a discussion about the central Taupo Volcanic Zone’s history, delving into Guil’s personal research. We learned about the necessity of volcanic geothermal systems as they relate to the creation of life. Guil showed us findings he made on his first Maymester trip to New Zealand with the help of two undergraduate students. This lengthy, yet informative, lecture left us with steep appetites that we were able to appease by venturing into downtown Rotorua. There students split up dining at restaurants that appealed to their specific tastes.
Well informed and well fed we returned to the hotel with anticipation for what our new location would provide us in the way of geological findings.
Signing off
~ Henry and Big Low
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