CALDERAConnections Among Life, geo-Dynamics and Eruptions in a Rifting Arc caldera

Overview

Caldera volcanoes produce Earth’s largest explosive eruptions but also multiple smaller eruptions that can still have major effects on communities. Under the surface of calderas, cold and hot water circulate vigorously, and researchers suspect there is plenty of life in the form of microbes

Calderas have long been studied from the surface. Scientific drilling, with extensive data collection, is needed to recover geological records of small old eruptions missing from the surface, observe water circulations and discover the underground life.

We propose the idea of a scientific drilling programme at the Okataina Volcanic centre because it is an ideal place to explore the multi-faceted inner workings of calderas. It is an active system that has been studied from the surface for a long time. Volcanic and earthquake activity is being monitored by GeoNET. A varied biosphere has already been mapped in surface hot springs.

The project

CALDERA is a project currently being designed to explore how active calderas work using scientific drilling. Extensive data collection and multi-faceted research will spur significant scientific discoveries to improve understanding of calderas.

These discoveries will underpin

1. resilience to volcanic and earthquake hazards;
2. sustainable management of groundwater and geothermal resources,
3. understanding of subsurface microbial diversity, function and geobiological interactions. There will be significant education and outreach events, at the OVC and globally.

Caldera volcanoes produce Earth’s largest explosive volcanic eruptions. These rare events create large ground depressions. In-between these rare large events, the calderas experience smaller eruptions, earthquakes (“Rocks”), but also host geothermal and groundwater resources (“Fluids”) and a largely unexplored underground life (“Life”).

In a caldera, Rocks, Fluids and Life are inter-connected

The rifting apart of tectonic plates in a rift makes space for magma to come closer to the surface. The rain naturally permeates the ground, and some of it gets heated up by the magma then migrates towards the surface. The hot water may reach the surface at hot springs, or stay trapped underground with the potential for renewable geothermal energy use. Multiple types of microbial life forms have been found in surface hot springs, and it is very likely there are some underground. The microbe’s types and their activity depend on the nearby rocks and fluids that bring nutrients.

Active calderas are found at major plate boundaries. The Okataina Volcanic Centre (OVC) is one of two giant active calderas in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, Aotearoa New Zealand, where the Taupō Rift stretches the tectonic plate. The OVC is ideal for scientific drilling and as a testbed for novel volcano monitoring approaches.