RSES Seminar Series 2024-09-12 El Mestel (Victoria University of Wellington)

Seismicity, sub-surface structure, and partnership with Tangata Whenua of Taupō volcano, Aotearoa New Zealand
El Mestel (Victoria University of Wellington)

Abstract: Taupō volcano is a frequently active rhyolitic caldera volcano that was the site of Earth’s most recent supereruption (Ōruanui,∼25.5 ka), as well as one of the most violent eruptions globally of the last 5000 years (Taupō, 232±10 CE). Taupō has erupted 28 times since Ōruanui and we see unrest activity (seismicity and surface deformation) on roughly decadal timescales, most recently in 2019 and 2022–23. This elevated activity resulted in the Volcanic Alert Level for Taupō being raised to Level 1 for the first time. Any resumption of eruptive activity at the volcano poses a major source of hazard, and improving our understanding of magma reservoir at Taupō is vital to interpreting future unrest and possible eruption.

El will present investigations into the processes that are causing seismicity at Taupō, and the geometry and state of the magma reservoir at this volcano. An important part of this was building partnerships with members of the community, local Iwi and Hapū, as well as others involved in emergency management to deploy a three-year temporary seismometer network in the areas around Lake Taupō. With the seismic data, they characterised recent seismicity between 2019 and 2022 to reveal activity and structure related to the magma system. The results have improved our collective knowledge of Taupō and can be used to inform the monitoring of the volcano into the future.