VOLCANIC REGION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 262, 1 August 1933, Page 8

VOLCANIC REGION

Need for Observatory

SUGGESTION NOT NEW

Geological Survey Made

The suggestion that steps should be taken to establish" a volcanic observatory in or near Rotorua, which was made by a visiting American geologist, Dr. H. T. Stearns, in an interview published in yesterday’s “Dominion,” is not by any means new. For years past scientific societies in New Zealand have advocated the establishment of a vulcanological observatory in the volcano region of the North Island. With thl£ object in view a survey has already been made by the Geological Survey branch of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. New Zealand geologists have always realised the advisability of a vuleanologieal observatory, and at different times in the past twenty years such a, proposal has received a good deal of support from scientists of note as well as the general public. Prior to 1926 no detailed geological survey had been made of any part of the volcanic region of the North Island, but in that year the Geological Survey Branch commenced a detailed examination of the Rotorua and adjoining districts, special attention being given to hot-spring and other volcanic phenomena. The survey, which was completed in May, 1930, extended over the active volcanic belt of the North Island, extending from Ruapehu and Tongariro north-east to Taupo, Rotorua and White Island in the Ba£ of Plenty. The survey was undertaken as part of the areal geological survey of the Dominion, and to ascertain whether it would be advisable to set up an observatory to make continuous observations of the volcanoes and hot springs in order to forecast volcanic eruptions. The geologists making the investigation took elaborate temperature readings over more than a year of selected springs in the Rotorua district, observations being made twice daily to see if there were any change. If an eruption were coming the temperature in these springs Would be expected to rise steadily and progressively, but no suggestion of that was found. In the event of a' vulcanological/observatory being established it-would keep track of these readings and other phenomena generally accepted as the prelude to an eruption. ■ «' As a result ■' of this' survey, it is understood to have been suggested that there should be a main observatory at Rotorua and two subsidiary observatories in other parts of the volcanic zone. Geological opinion is in agreement with Dr. Stearns that FryingPan Flat requires watching. i