Possum blamed for blaze A large fire that engulfed a 1 kilometre-wide area of dry tussock close to the Remarkables Skifield near Queenstown on Friday, 19 January, was started by a blazing possum. The unlucky animal probably caught alight as it ran across a power line. It fell to the ground, starting a fire that took 12 hours to bring under control. 1:27 PM
19.1.07
Monitoring volcanic gases Changes in the chemistry of volcanic gases and in the rate that gases such as sulphur dioxide are emitted from craters may be used to detect changes in the behaviour of volcanoes. New Zealand scientist regularly sample volcanic gases from steaming vents at places like White Island, Mount Tarawera, the craters on Mount Tongariro and the summit crater of Ngauruhoe. 1:34 PM
12.1.07
Pyroclastic clouds During eruptions, volcanoes can blast out clouds of incandescent rock particles and superheated gases. These fiery “pyroclastic clouds” are much more dangerous than lava flows. They are extremely hot (several hundred degrees Centigrade) and can travel at speeds of several hundred kilometres per hour. In 1902, 30,000 people perished in a few minutes when the town of St Pierre on the island of Martinique was struck by a pyroclastic cloud from Mt Pelee. 12:31 PM
