Agency: GeoNet (Earth Sciences New Zealand)
Name: Volcanic Alert Levels
The aviation VAL scheme can be found here, and follows the standard ICAO aviation VAL scheme.
Hazard maps are sometimes issued in conjunction with VAL changes, for example: Volcanic Hazards on Mt. Ruapehu – VAL 2. Version 7-VAL2A 2022 (GNS, 2022)
Elements of VAL system
| Domain | Terrestrial |
| Volcano | All |
| Scheme range | 0–5 level scale |
| Lowest level | 0 |
| Highest level | 5 |
| Level name type | Number & Word |
| Level for lack/loss of monitoring | No |
| Volcanic activity | Yes |
| Hazards possible | No |
| Locations affected | Yes |
| Potential impacts | No |
| Forecast language | No |
| Timing language | No |
| Actions to take | No |
| Agency actions | No |
| Link to evacuations | No |
| Reporting frequency per level | No |
| Link to monitoring thresholds | No |
| Step-up and step-down language | No |
VAL sources and links
The images below are static examples of VAL information pages and DO NOT represent current alert levels. While we strive to maintain the links below, they may not always work. For the current alert level, please consult the proper institutional authorities.
VAL Map and Dashboard
Reports
Social Media
Related References
Potter, S. H., Jolly, G. E., Neall, V. E., Johnston, D. M., & Scott, B. J. (2014). Communicating the status of volcanic activity: revising New Zealand’s volcanic alert level system. Journal of Applied Volcanology, 3(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13617-014-0013-7
Potter, S.H., Scott, B.J., Fearnley, C.J., Leonard, G.S., Gregg, C.E. (2017). Challenges and Benefits of Standardising Early Warning Systems: A Case Study of New Zealand’s Volcanic Alert Level System. In: Fearnley, C.J., Bird, D.K., Haynes, K., McGuire, W.J., Jolly, G. (eds) Observing the Volcano World. Advances in Volcanology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/11157_2017_18