Kōrero: Soils

Volcanic ash from Mt Ruapehu has contributed to many soils in the North Island. The wind direction at the time of an eruption dictates where the ash will be deposited. Coarse material lands quite close to the vent, but fine material has travelled at least as far as Napier and Gisborne. In this eruption of Ruapehu in 1995, the ash is drifting eastwards. Only a thin layer of ash was deposited, and by 2005 it was difficult to identify.