Aims

To study the mechanism of the strombolian eruptions from the lava lake, as it reforms after disappearing in the 1984 activity, by a combination of TV surveillance, seismic infrasonic, and infrared monitoring of the eruptions. The study is made jointly by Victoria University of Wellington and the National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, and in close cooperation with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. They are studying the release of volcanic gases from the lava lake, both during and between eruptions, by means of a correlation spectrometer, and by collecting samples of aerosols, sublimated salts, and newly ejected lava bombs.

The MEEMS project makes use of the old IMESS seismic array by unofficial courtesy of NSF. The infrasonic sensors, and the long period horizontal seismometer connected to the array at E1 and CON belong to VUW and NIPR respectively. The recording equipment at Scott Base belongs to NIPR, and the telemetry receiving equipment belongs to NSF, except for one bank of discriminators, which belongs to VUW. All the TV monitoring equipment belongs to VUW. Seismic recording materials are provided by NIPR, and videotapes are provided by VUW.

The year's work from the date K044 arrives, comprises servicing the Scott Base installation, and then the Erebus installations while observing the changes in crater temperature, activity and morphology. Ideally, all seismic tapes recorded since Winfly should be played back on to paper charts at Scott Base for distribution to NIPR, VUW, NMIMT, and GIUA. This enables analysis to begin promptly on data collected under our control. Priority is given to eruptions for which both TV and seismic data are available. If this is not done before the seismic tapes and playback machine are returned to Japan, the analysis will be delayed for about 8 months, and equipment faults may persist.