Are Auckland volcanoes dormant?
Rangitoto: Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is home to around 50 volcanoes. The Auckland Volcanic Field is dormant rather than extinct, with scientists estimating there’s a 0.1% chance of an eruption in any one year.
Is Auckland built on a volcano?
The city of Auckland is built on a volcanic field. There are 50 volcanoes within an area of 1,000 square kilometres, forming the hills, lakes and basins of the city. Rangitoto Island was formed by the most recent volcanic eruption 600 years ago – the blink of an eye in geological terms.
Is the Auckland Volcanic Field still active?
Mt Eden, Auckland. The Auckland Volcanic Field is monogenetic meaning each volcano usually only erupts once. The field is still active and there is no way to predict where or when the next ‘bubble’ of magma will rise to the surface and create a new volcano.
When did Auckland volcanoes last erupt?
. 1400 CE
| Auckland Volcanic Field | |
|---|---|
| Age of rock | Pleistocene and Holocene |
| Mountain type | Volcanic Field |
| Type of rock | Basalt |
| Last eruption | c. 1400 CE |
What is the oldest volcano in NZ?
Auckland Domain – Pukekawa Erupting over 100,000 years ago, Pukekawa is one of Auckland’s oldest volcanoes – and one of the most popular.
Which volcano in Auckland erupted most recently?
Rangitoto Island
Rangitoto Island was formed by the most recent eruption on Auckland. Eruptions started 193,000 years ago on the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF), and at least 50 volcanoes have appeared since then.
When was the last eruption in NZ?
9 December 2019
The volcano erupted on 9 December 2019 at 14:11 NZDT (01:11 UTC). The ash plume rose 3.7 kilometres (12,000 ft) into the air.
What kind of volcanic field is Auckland New Zealand?
The Auckland volcanic field is an area of monogenetic volcanoes covered by much of the metropolitan area of Auckland. A monogenetic volcanic field is a type of volcanic field consisting of a group of small monogenetic volcanoes, each of which erupts only once in it’s lifetime.
How big was the explosion of the Auckland volcano?
The explosions of Auckland scoria cone volcanoes would have only affected areas of 5–20 square kilometres (the size of an average suburb), but while the fallout of rock and scoria is limited for this type of volcano, the fine ash particles can travel widely.
When was the last volcano eruption in New Zealand?
This means they will not erupt again with the exception of Rangitoto Island, which is dormant. Dormant means a volcano has had no volcanic activity for many years, and in the case of Rangitoto Island the last recorded eruption was more than 550 years ago.
Is there a high probability of an eruption in Auckland?
These are just some of the questions that Jan is seeking answers to. She suggests that the Auckland volcanic field is a low probability but high risk situation – that means it’s unlikely we will experience an eruption in Auckland within our lifetime, but if it did, it would cause widespread damage and disruption. This opens in a new window.
