Academic literature on the topic 'Calderas New Zealand'

Volcanism is the most widespread expression of cyclic processes of formation and/or destruction that shape the Earth’s surface. Calderas are morphological depressions resulting from the collapse of a magma chamber following large eruptions and are commonly found in subduction-related tectono-magmatic regimes, such as arc and back-arc settings. Some of the most impressive examples of seafloor hydrothermal venting occur within submarine calderas. Here, we show the results of magnetic investigations at two hydrothermally active submarine calderas, i.e., Palinuro Seamount in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy, and Brothers volcano of the Kermadec arc, New Zealand. These volcanoes occur in different geodynamic settings but show similarities in the development of their hydrothermal systems, both of which are hosted within calderas. We present a new integrated model based on morphological, geological and magnetic data for the Palinuro caldera, and we compare this with the well-established model of Brothers caldera, highlighting the differences and common features in the geophysical expressions of both hydrothermal systems. For consistency with the results at Brothers volcano, we build a model of demagnetised areas associated with hydrothermal alteration derived from 3D inversion of magnetic data. Both these models for Brothers and Palinuro show that hydrothermal up-flow zones are strongly controlled by caldera structures which provide large-scale permeability pathways, favouring circulation of the hydrothermal fluids at depth.

Abstract Understanding the origins of the mantle melts that drive voluminous silicic volcanism is challenging because primitive magmas are generally trapped at depth. The central Taupō Volcanic Zone (TVZ; New Zealand) hosts an extraordinarily productive region of rhyolitic caldera volcanism. Accompanying and interspersed with the rhyolitic products, there are traces of basalt to andesite preserved as enclaves or pyroclasts in caldera eruption products and occurring as small monogenetic eruptive centers between calderas. These mafic materials contain MgO-rich olivines (Fo79–86) that host melt inclusions capturing the most primitive basaltic melts fueling the central TVZ. Olivine-hosted melt inclusion compositions associated with the caldera volcanoes (intracaldera samples) contrast with those from the nearby, mafic intercaldera monogenetic centers. Intracaldera melt inclusions from the modern caldera volcanoes of Taupō and Okataina have lower abundances of incompatible elements, reflecting distinct mantle melts. There is a direct link showing that caldera-related silicic volcanism is fueled by basaltic magmas that have resulted from higher degrees of partial melting of a more depleted mantle source, along with distinct subduction signatures. The locations and vigor of Taupō and Okataina are fundamentally related to the degree of melting and flux of basalt from the mantle, and intercaldera mafic eruptive products are thus not representative of the feeder magmas for the caldera volcanoes. Inherited olivines and their melt inclusions provide a unique “window” into the mantle dynamics that drive the active TVZ silicic magmatic systems and may present a useful approach at other volcanoes that show evidence for mafic recharge.

AbstractMajor, trace, and rare earth element analyses of volcanic glass are used separately or in combination for correlating Quaternary tephras, often by graphical or simple comparative methods. We have taken a statistical approach using discriminant function analysis (DFA) to assess the relative discriminating power of the different elements in volcanic glasses from several tectonovolcanic provinces. We found that major oxides are powerful discriminating variables for widespread tephras from the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand and here they can be more discriminating than trace elements. A wide selection of tephras from the western United States can also be distinguished on major oxides alone, particularly those from Cascade Range volcanoes. For tephras from large intracontinental calderas, such as Long Valley or Yellowstone, REE and trace elements are more effective at discriminating than major oxides. However, tephras erupted from the Long Valley area can be distinguished on major oxide composition by DFA, despite their similar chemistry. The selection and relative significance of different elements for discriminating tephras depends on the total data set being compared, as well as the source volcano and the individual eruptive events. Caution must be exercised in the nonstatistical selection of compositional data for characterizing tephras: DFA is a more powerful and objective tool for the comparison of tephra chemistry.

SUMMARY The Taupo Volcanic Zone has a 120-km-long section of rhyolitic volcanism, within which is a 60-km-long area of supervolcanoes. The underlying subducted slab has along-strike heterogeneity due to the Hikurangi Plateau's prior subduction history. We studied 3-D Qs (1/attenuation) using t* spectral decay from local earthquakes to 370-km depth. Selection emphasized those events with data quality to sample the low Qs mantle wedge, and Qs inversion used varied linking of nodes to obtain resolution in regions of sparse stations, and 3-D initial model. The imaged mantle wedge has a 250-km-long 150-km-wide zone of low Qs (<300) at 65–85 km depth which includes two areas of very low Qs (<120). The most pronounced low Qs feature underlies the Mangakino and Whakamaru super-eruptive calderas, with inferred melt ascending under the central rift structure. The slab is characterized by high Qs (1200–2000), with a relatively small area of reduction in Qs (<800) underlying Taupo at 65-km depth, and adjacent to the mantle wedge low Qs. This suggests abundant dehydration fluids coming off the slab at specific locations and migrating near-vertically upward to the volcanic zone. The seismicity in the subducted slab has a patch of dense seismicity underlying the rhyolitic volcanic zone, consistent with locally abundant fractures and fluid flux. The relationship between the along-arc and downdip slab heterogeneity and dehydration implies that patterns of volcanism may be strongly influenced by large initial outer rise hydration which occurred while the edge of the Hikurangi Plateau hindered subduction. A second very low Qs feature is 50-km west above the 140-km-depth slab. The distinction suggests involvement of a second dehydration peak at that depth, consistent with some numerical models.

In 1998, changes in a number of indicators (earthquakes and uplift) at two of New Zealand's active volcanic caldera systems (Okataina and Taupo) resulted in increased public, local and central government awareness and some concern about the potential significance of volcanic unrest at a caldera volcano. This paper summarises the episodes of unrest recorded at Taupo caldera since 1895. There have been four significant events (1895, 1922, 1963-64 and 1983) that have included earthquake activity and ground deformation. Caldera unrest is one of the most difficult situations the volcanological and emergency management communities will have to deal with. There is potential for adverse social and economic impacts to escalate unnecessarily, unless the event is managed appropriately. Adverse response to caldera unrest may take the form of the release of inappropriate advice, media speculation, unwarranted emergency declarations and premature cessation of economic activity and community services. A non-volcanic-crisis time provides the best opportunity to develop an understanding of the caldera unrest phenomena, and the best time to establish educational programmes, funding systems for enhanced emergency response and volcano surveillance and to develop co-ordinated contingency plans.

Deep water ethusid crabs, genus Ethusina, are confirmed for the first time from Australia, with additional distribution records from New Zealand waters. Prior to the present study, Ethusina was reported from Australia on the basis of a single unidentified species from southwestern Australia. Four species are reported herein: Ethusina castro Ahyong, 2008, E. ciliacirrata Castro, 2005, E. robusta (Miers, 1886), and E. rowdeni Ahyong, 2008. Ethusina castro, previously known only from the female holotype from northern New Zealand is reported for the first time from eastern Australia, the Lord Howe Rise and Monowai Caldera, including the first known males. Ethusina ciliacirrata, described from Vanuatu, is confirmed from the Coral Sea and southwestern Australia. Ethusina rowdeni, from New Zealand, and the widespread E. robusta are recorded for the first time from Australia.

The Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) is investigated to determine the interaction of regional structure and volcanism. A three-tiered approach is employed involving (i) analysis of rift geometry and segmentation in Modem TVZ(<300 ka) from remote sensing and digital topographic data; (ii) fault kinematic data collected along the length of TVZ; and (iii) combining new and existing volcanological data for TVZ. Modem TVZ is a NNE-SSW trending intra-arc rift zone, subject to dextral transtension, and characterised by a segmented axial rift zone with a number of offset and variably oriented rift segments. These segments are subject to varying degrees of extension, and a general correlation exists between the amount of extension and the volume and style of volcanism in each segment. Segments with the highest degrees of extension correspond to the Okataina and Taupo Caldera Complexes in the central rhyolitic zone of Modem TVZ, while segments with a higher degree of dextral transtension correspond to the volumetrically-subordinate andesitic extremities. The influence of the structural framework on the shape and formation of calderas in Modem TVZ has been inferred from remote sensing and ground-based structural analysis. Detailed analysis of caldera structure and geometry in Modem TVZ indicates that caldera evolution is largely a function of caldera location relative to the axial rift zone. Calderas peripheral to the rift are simple, single-event structures, while those located within the axial rift zone are multiple-event caldera complexes with geometries dictated by their coincidence with rift faulting. These results show that in Modem TVZ the type, volume, and spatial distribution of magmatic activity is strongly influenced by rift structure and kinematics. The inter-relationship between rift geometry and caldera-complex development is particularly clear at the intra-rift Okataina Caldera Complex (OCC). OCC is located at a step-over in the rift where local rotation of the extension direction accompanies the development of a major transfer zone. Three main collapse events are spatially concentrated in a zone of orthogonal extension within the transfer zone. The 28 x 22 km OCC is elongate parallel to the extension direction, with a complicated topographic margin largely controlled by regional faulting. Major embayments occur on each side of OCC where it is intersected by adjacent rift segments. These are contiguous with two intra-caldera dome complexes forming two overlapping linear vent zones, which transect the caldera complex. The development of volcanism at OCC records the progressive interaction between offset rift segments and the propagation of overlapping rift segment axes. As rift propagation proceeded, a diffuse zone of volcanism progressively concentrated in the centre of the transfer zone then divided into two spatially restricted eruptive centres as through-going faults became established. Field investigations at OCC reveal a major revision to the eruptive stratigraphy that has implications for the development of the caldera and for hazard assessment in northern TVZ. Kawerau Ignimbrite is a partially welded pumice-rich ignimbrite that fills Puhipuhi Basin on the eastern side of the caldera complex and forms a thick terrace in and around the Kawerau township area. Within Puhipuhi Basin it is ~100 m thick, exposed on clear-felled knolls and locally forms jointed bluffs in thickest sections where it is valley ponded. Originally mapped as Kaingaroa Ignimbrite, it was subsequently considered distinct and renamed Kawerau Ignimbrite by Beresford & Cole (2000) with an accepted age of 240 ka. In Puhipuhi basin the Kawerau Ignimbrite overlies both the ~280 ka Matahina and ~65 ka Rotoiti ignimbrites and also the older tephras of the 43-31 ka Mangaone Subgroup. Whole-rock and glass geochemistry tie the ignimbrite specifically to the 33 ka Unit I eruptive phase of the subgroup, vastly increasing the eruptive volume of that unit and implying caldera collapse in this recent phase of OCC activity. Two pumice compositions are identified, reflecting eruption of two distinct magma bodies. Vertical variation in the ignimbrite records rapid depletion of a subordinate dacitic magma such that pumices of this composition are rare beyond proximal exposures. Lithic and pumice size distribution data indicate a source within OCC to the west of Puhipuhi basin. The residual volume of the ignimbrite is <15 km3, but estimates of the original volume approach 50 km3 when intra-caldera volumes are considered. Kawerau Ignimbrite thus represents the largest eruption from OCC in the last 65 ka since the Rotoiti event, and is the youngest partially-welded ignimbrite in TVZ.

This thesis presents a new GIS-based scenario volcanic risk assessment model called RiskScape Volcano (RSV) that has been designed for the RiskScape program to advance the field of volcanic risk assessment. RiskScape is a natural hazards risk assessment software tool being developed in New Zealand by GNS Science and NIWA. When integrated into RiskScape, RSV will add proximal volcanic hazard risk assessment capability, and enhanced inventory design; it presently operates outside of RiskScape by combining volcanic hazard models’ output spatial hazard intensity (hazard maps) with inventory databases (asset maps) in GIS software to determine hazard exposure, which is then combined with fragility functions (relationships between hazard intensity and expected damage ratios) to estimate risk. This thesis consists of seven publications, each of which comprises a part of the development and testing of RSV: 1) results of field investigation of impacts to agriculture and infrastructure of the 2006 eruption of Merapi Volcano, Indonesia; 2) agricultural fragility functions for tephra damage in New Zealand based on the observations made at Merapi; 3) examination of wind patterns above the central North Island, New Zealand for better modeling of tephra dispersal with the ASHFALL model; 4) a description of the design, components, background, and an example application of the RSV model; 5) test of RSV via a risk assessment of population, agriculture, and infrastructure in the Rotorua District from a rhyolite eruption at the Okataina Volcanic Centre; 6) test of RSV via a comparison of risk to critical infrastructure in Mammoth Lakes, California from an eruption at Mammoth Mountain volcano versus an eruption from the Inyo craters; and 7) a survey of volcanic hazard awareness in the tourism sector in Mammoth Lakes. Tests of the model have demonstrated that it is capable of providing valid and useful risk assessments that can be used by local government and emergency management to prioritise eruption response planning and risk mitigation efforts. RSV has provided the RiskScape design team with a more complete quantitative volcanic risk assessment model that can be integrated into RiskScape and used in New Zealand and potentially overseas.

In order to classify volcanic eruptions and their potential effects on the atmosphere, Newhall and Self (1982) proposed a scale of explosive magnitude, the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), based mainly on the volume of the erupted products (and the height of the volcanic eruption column). VEI’s range varies from VEI = 0 (for strictly non-explosive eruptions) to VEI = 8 (for explosive eruptions producing ∼1012 m3 bulk volume of tephra). Eruption rates for VEI = 8 eruptions may be greater than 106 m3s−1 (Ninkovich et al., 1978a, 1978b). Eruptions also differ in the amounts of sulphur-rich gases released to form stratospheric aerosols. Therefore, the sulphur content of the magma, the efficiency of degassing, and the heights reached by the eruption column are important factors in the climatic effects of eruptions (Palais and Sigurdsson, 1989; Rampino and Self, 1984). Historic eruptions of VEI ranging from three to six (volume of ejecta from <1 km3 to a few tens of km3) have produced stratospheric aerosol clouds up to a few tens of Mt. These eruptions, including Tambora 1815 and Krakatau 1883, have caused cooling of the Earth’s global climate of a few tenths of a degree Centigrade (Rampino and Self, 1984). The most recent example is the Pinatubo (Philippines) eruption of 1991 (Graf et al., 1993; Hansen et al., 1996). Volcanic super-eruptions are defined as eruptions that are tens to hundreds of times larger than historic eruptions, attaining a VEI of 8 (Mason et al., 2004; Rampino, 2002; Rampino et al., 1988; Sparks et al., 2005). Super-eruptions are usually caldera-forming events and more than twenty super-eruption sites for the last 2 million years have been identified in North America, South America, Italy, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Kamchatka, and New Zealand. No doubt additional super-eruption sites for the last few million years exist (Sparks et al., 2005). The Late Pleistocene eruption of Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia was one of the greatest known volcanic events in the geologic record (Ninkovich et al., 1978a, 1978b; Rampino and Self, 1993a; Rose and Chesner, 1990).