The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Taupo.
The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Taupo.
The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Taupo.
This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.
Cones |
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| Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
| Horomatangi Reef | Vent | 38° 51' 0" S | 175° 56' 0" E | |
Domes |
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| Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
| Ben Lomond | Dome | |||
| Kuharua | Dome | 1129 m | 38° 56' 0" S | 175° 42' 0" E |
| Manganamu | Dome | 492 m | 38° 59' 0" S | 175° 47' 0" E |
| Marotiri | Dome | 733 m | 38° 37' 0" S | 175° 55' 0" E |
| Maunganamu | Dome | 630 m | 38° 44' 0" S | 176° 8' 0" E |
| Motuapu | Dome | 496 m | 38° 56' 0" S | 175° 52' 0" E |
| Motukaiko | Dome | 442 m | 38° 52' 0" S | 175° 57' 0" E |
| Motuma | Dome | 647 m | 38° 38' 0" S | 175° 51' 0" E |
| Ouaha | Dome | 630 m | 38° 51' 0" S | 176° 2' 0" E |
| Pukekaikiore | Dome | 748 m | 38° 54' 0" S | 175° 44' 0" E |
| Rangitukua | Dome | 726 m | 38° 52' 0" S | 175° 46' 0" E |
| Tahunatara | Dome | 651 m | 38° 43' 0" S | 175° 58' 0" E |
| Tauhara | Dome | 1087 m | 38° 42' 0" S | 176° 10' 0" E |
| Tuhingamata | Dome | 661 m | 38° 43' 0" S | 176° 0' 0" E |
Thermal |
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| Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
| Hipaua | Thermal | 38° 58' 0" S | 175° 44' 0" E | |
| Tauhara-Taupo | Thermal | 460 m | 38° 41' 31" S | 176° 6' 0" E |
| Te Hoata | Thermal | |||
| Te Pupu | Thermal | |||
| Tokaanu | Thermal | |||
| Waihi-Tokaanu | Thermal | 915 m | 38° 58' 0" S | 175° 46' 0" E |
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There is data available for 25 Holocene eruptive periods.
| Start Date | Stop Date | Eruption Certainty | VEI | Evidence | Activity Area or Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0260 (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 0 | Tephrochronology | East Lake Taupo (Horomatangi Reefs) |
| 0233 Mar 15 ± 13 years ± 20 days | Unknown | Confirmed | 6 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | Horomatangi Reefs area, Unit Y |
| 0200 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 4 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit X |
| 0800 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 2 | Tephrochronology | Ouaha Hills, Unit W |
| 1010 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 4 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit V |
| 1050 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 5 km NE of Motutaiko Island, Unit U |
| 1250 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 4 km W of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit T |
| 1460 BCE ± 40 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 6 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | Horomatangi Reefs?, Unit S |
| 2500 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 3 km SW of Motutaiko Island, Unit R |
| 2600 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 3 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit Q |
| 2800 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Tephrochronology | Unit P |
| 2850 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 2 km S of Te Tuhi Point, Unit O |
| 2900 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 5 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit N |
| 3070 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 5 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit M |
| 3120 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Tephrochronology | 2 km W of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit L |
| 3170 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 4 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit K |
| 3420 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | Unit J |
| 4000 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | Unit I |
| 4100 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 4 km WNW of Kohaiakahu Point, Unit H |
| 4700 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | East-central Lake Taupo, Unit G |
| 5100 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 3 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | SE Lake Taupo (Motutaiko Island) (Unit F) |
| 8130 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 5 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | Central, E-central L. Taupo (Opepe), Unit E |
| 9210 BCE (?) | Unknown | Confirmed | 4 | Tephrochronology | Acacia Bay lava dome, Unit D |
| 9240 BCE ± 75 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 5 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | 4 km W of Te Kohaiakahu Point, Unit C (Poronui) |
| 9460 BCE ± 200 years | Unknown | Confirmed | 5 | Radiocarbon (corrected) | East-central Lake Taupo (Karapiti), Unit B |
There is data available for 6 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.
| Start Date: 1999 | Stop Date: 2010 | Direction: Subsidence | Method: InSAR |
| Magnitude: Unknown | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
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Remarks: Long-term subsidence is associated with the Ohaaki geothermal field. |
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Time series of line-of-sight displacement at Ohaaki geothermal field from ALOS PALSAR ascending path 325 starting from 20070113 (date in YYYYMMDD format). Coordinates of TL and BR corners are (?38.48N, 176.25E) and (?38.58N, 176.40E). Red star shows region of fastest subsidence. From: Samsonov et al. 2011. |
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Reference List: Hole et al. 2007; Samsonov et al. 2011.
Full References:
Hole, J. K., C. J. Bromley, N. F. Stevens, and G. Wadge, 2007. Subsidence in the geothermal fields of the Taupo volcanic zone, New Zealand from 1996 to 2005 measured by InSAR. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 166: 125-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2007.07.013
Samsonov S, Beavan J, Gonzalez P J, Tiampo K, Fernandez J, 2011. Ground deformation in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, observed by ALOS PALSAR interferometry. Geophysical Journal International, 187(1), 147-160.
| Start Date: 1996 | Stop Date: 2010 | Direction: Subsidence | Method: InSAR |
| Magnitude: Unknown | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
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Remarks: Long-term subsidence is associated with the Wairakei-Tauhara geothermal field. |
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Time series of line-of-sight displacement at Tauhara-Wairakei geothermal system from ALOS PALSAR ascending path 325 starting from 20070113 (date in YYYYMMDD format). Coordinates of TL and BR corners are (?38.58N, 176.00E) and (?38.72N, 176.17E). Red star shows region of fastest subsidence. From: Samsonov et al. 2011. |
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Reference List: Hole et al. 2007; Samsonov et al. 2011.
Full References:
Hole, J. K., C. J. Bromley, N. F. Stevens, and G. Wadge, 2007. Subsidence in the geothermal fields of the Taupo volcanic zone, New Zealand from 1996 to 2005 measured by InSAR. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 166: 125-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2007.07.013
Samsonov S, Beavan J, Gonzalez P J, Tiampo K, Fernandez J, 2011. Ground deformation in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, observed by ALOS PALSAR interferometry. Geophysical Journal International, 187(1), 147-160.
| Start Date: 1996 | Stop Date: 1999 | Direction: Uplift | Method: Leveling |
| Magnitude: Unknown | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
Reference List: Otway et al. 2002.
Full References:
Otway, P. M., Blick, G. H., & Scott, B. J., 2002. Vertical deformation at Lake Taupo, New Zealand, from lake levelling surveys, 1979-99. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 45(1), 121-132.
| Start Date: 1984 | Stop Date: 1996 | Direction: Subsidence | Method: Leveling |
| Magnitude: Unknown | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
Reference List: Otway et al. 2002.
Full References:
Otway, P. M., Blick, G. H., & Scott, B. J., 2002. Vertical deformation at Lake Taupo, New Zealand, from lake levelling surveys, 1979-99. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 45(1), 121-132.
| Start Date: 1983 | Stop Date: 1984 | Direction: Uplift | Method: Leveling |
| Magnitude: Unknown | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
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Remarks: Deformation at Lake Taupo is observed from 1983 to 1984 and is related to an earthquake swarm that began on 17 June 1983. |
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Reference List: Otway et al. 2002.
Full References:
Otway, P. M., Blick, G. H., & Scott, B. J., 2002. Vertical deformation at Lake Taupo, New Zealand, from lake levelling surveys, 1979-99. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 45(1), 121-132.
| Start Date: 1979 | Stop Date: 1982 | Direction: Variable (uplift / subsidence) | Method: Leveling |
| Magnitude: Unknown | Spatial Extent: Unknown | Latitude: Unknown | Longitude: Unknown |
Reference List: Otway et al. 2002.
Full References:
Otway, P. M., Blick, G. H., & Scott, B. J., 2002. Vertical deformation at Lake Taupo, New Zealand, from lake levelling surveys, 1979-99. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 45(1), 121-132.
There is no Emissions History data available for Taupo.
| An aerial view shows the E margin of Lake Taupo with Taupo City on its shore. The 35-km-wide caldera is not topographically prominent but has been the source of powerful rhyolitic eruptions from the late Pleistocene throughout the Holocene. The 35,000-year-old Tauhara lava dome forms the peak in the background. Photo by Jim Healy (New Zealand Geological Survey). |
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| Volcanologists Colin Wilson and Peter Ballance examine a roadcut that dissects deposits of major eruptions from the Taupo volcanic center. The bottom visible unit is an exposure of an unwelded pyroclastic flow deposit from the Oruanui eruption, which formed Taupo's initial caldera about 22,600 years ago. Light-colored pumice fall deposits from other major eruptions are between it and the deposits of the 1,800-year-old Taupo eruption (upper right), which were responsible for Taupo's second caldera. Photo by Bruce Houghton (Wairakei Research Center). |
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| This view looking SW across Lake Taupo, the southernmost major caldera of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, shows several major peaks of Tongariro and Ruapehu. The broad forested peak below the center horizon is the Pleistocene Pihanga volcano. The steep-sided cone on the horizon to its right is Ngauruhoe, the youngest cone of the Tongariro complex. The broad massif to its right is Tongariro. The snow-capped massif on the left-center horizon is Ruapehu. Photo by Tom Simkin, 1986 (Smithsonian Institution). |
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| Lake Taupo fills a roughly 35-km-wide caldera that is the site of the most prolific rhyolitic volcano of the Taupo volcanic zone. The caldera was formed during two major explosive eruptions, the Oruanui eruption, roughly 22,600 years ago, and the Taupo eruption, about 1,800 years ago. The latter was one of the world's largest Holocene eruptions. Additional Plinian eruptions during the Holocene have produced widespread airfall pumice deposits. Photo by Richard Waitt, 1986 (U.S. Geological Survey). |
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| This thick outcrop exposes deposits of the 1,800-year-old Taupo eruption, one of the world's largest during the past 10,000 years. The Taupo eruption produced phreatomagmatic surge deposits, Plinian tephra deposits, and the overlying Taupo ignimbrite, seen at the upper half of this photo above the thin, light-colored layers. The eruption occurred from a vent at Horomatangi Reefs, now submerged beneath Lake Taupo. Photo by Richard Waitt, 1986 (U.S. Geological Survey). |
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The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.
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Title: Bay of Plenty-Southern Havre Trough Physiography Publisher: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Country: New Zealand Year: 1990 Series: Misc Map Type: Bathymetric Scale: 1:400,000 |
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Title: Bay of Plenty Publisher: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Country: New Zealand Year: 1989 Series: Coastal Map Type: Bathymetric Scale: 1:200,000 |
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Title: New Zealand Geol Publisher: NZGS, DSIR (Dept Scientific & Industrial Research) Country: New Zealand Year: 1987 Map Type: Geology Scale: 1:2,000,000 |
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Title: Central N Island, Touring Map Publisher: Department of Lands and Survey New Zealand Country: New Zealand Year: 1986 Series: NZMS Map Type: Geographic Scale: 1:250,000 |
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Title: New Zealand Topo Map Publisher: Department of Lands and Survey New Zealand Country: New Zealand Year: 1983 Series: NZMS Map Type: Topographic Scale: 1:500,000 |
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Title: Late Quaternary Tectonic Map of New Zealand Publisher: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Country: New Zealand Year: 1977 Series: Misc Map Series Map Type: Geology (Tectonic) Scale: 1:2,000,000 |
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Title: N Island, Geol Map of NZ Publisher: NZGS, DSIR (Dept Scientific & Industrial Research) Country: New Zealand Year: 1975 Map Type: Geology Scale: 1:1,000,000 |
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Title: N Island, Quaternary Geol Publisher: NZGS Country: New Zealand Year: 1973 Series: Misc Map Type: Geology Scale: 1:1,000,000 |
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Title: Quaternary Geology-North Island Publisher: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Country: New Zealand Year: 1973 Series: Misc Map Series Map Type: Geology Scale: 1:1,000,000 |
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Title: New Zealand Publisher: US Central Intelligence Agency Country: New Zealand Year: 1971 Map Type: Geographic Scale: 1:7,500 |
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Title: Rotorua Publisher: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Country: New Zealand Year: 1964 Series: NZMS 1 Map Type: Geology Scale: 1:250,000 |
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The following 28 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.
| Catalog Number | Sample Description | Lava Source | Collection Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMNH 116210-10 | Pumice | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-11 | Pumice | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-12 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-23 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-24 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-25 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-28 | Welded Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-29 | Welded Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-30 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-32 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-33 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-34 | Basalt | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-35 | Rhyolite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-37 | Ignimbrite | LAKE TAUPO | -- |
| NMNH 116210-38 | Ignimbrite | LAKE TAUPO | -- |
| NMNH 116210-4 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-5 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-6 | Airfall Pumice | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-7 | Pumice | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-8 | Ignimbrite | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116210-9 | Volcanic Ash | -- | -- |
| NMNH 116566-12 | Volcanic Rock | TAUHARA | -- |
| NMNH 116691-5 | Pyroclastic Rock | -- | 1 Feb 1986 |
| NMNH 116691-9 | Pyroclastic Rock | -- | -- |
| NMNH 117454-55 | Pumice | -- | -- |
| NMNH 117454-56 | Obsidian | -- | -- |
| NMNH 117454-57 | Obsidian | Taupo breccia | -- |
| NMNH 117551-15 | Obsidian | Tauhara 'dacite' flow; Tauhara | -- |
| Volcanic Hazard Maps | The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter. |
| MIROVA | Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity. |
| MODVOLC Thermal Alerts | Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales. |
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Sentinel Hub Playground
Sentinel Hub EO Browser |
The Sentinel Hub Playground provides a quick look at any Sentinel-2 image in any combination of the bands and enhanced with image effects; Landsat 8, DEM and MODIS are also available. Sentinel Hub is an engine for processing of petabytes of satellite data. It is opening the doors for machine learning and helping hundreds of application developers worldwide. It makes Sentinel, Landsat, and other Earth observation imagery easily accessible for browsing, visualization and analysis. Sentinel Hub is operated by Sinergise |
| IRIS seismic stations/networks | Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Taupo. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice. |
| UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations | Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Taupo. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player. |
| DECADE Data | The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO2 to the atmosphere, but installing CO2 monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere. |
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WOVOdat
Single Volcano View Temporal Evolution of Unrest Side by Side Volcanoes |
WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore. |
| Large Eruptions of Taupo | Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA). |
| EarthChem | EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS). |
