© GNS ScienceWhite Island from Whakatane on Thursday afternoon.
A lightning storm at least 30km away from White Island had Bay of Plenty residents thinking the volcano was erupting when flashes of orange lights were seen above it.
Residents throughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty stood outside their homes and gathered near beaches last night to catch a glimpse of the show described as orange flashes similar to lightning, which was lighting up the gloomy sky above the island.
While GNS Science confirmed yesterday afternoon that White Island, which sits 48km offshore and is one of New Zealand's most active cone volcanoes, had erupted, last night's spectacular light show was in fact a lightning storm up to 40km away from the island. Ash from the volcano has drifted as far as Tauranga's coastline, and has coated homes and cars along Papamoa beach.
Volcanologist Brad Scott told
The Daily Post last night there was no seismic activity recorded from White Island, which meant the light flashes were not part of the eruption. Instead, he said there was a lightning storm recorded for about four hours until 9.30pm.
"There's a lightning storm about 30 to 40km out behind White Island,'' Mr Scott said.
GNS Science volcanologist Mike Rosenberg was reported last night as saying the crater lake on White Island was drying out, which was causing less water to be pulled into the ash cloud.
That was creating static which was being discharged as lightning.
Comment: More evidence of increased volcanic activity around the world. Remember, most volcanoes are underwater.
Increased evaporation due to geological changes - and not antropogenic global warming, as they tell us - may already be affecting the global weather.