A 'Supereruption' That Could Have Buried New Zealand Finally Makes Sense

Researchers reconstructed New Zealand’s Whakamaru supereruption using volcanic deposits and glass chemistry from 30+ sites across New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The study suggests the eruption likely began with magma entering a lake, triggering a highly explosive supereruption in the Taupō Volcanic Zone.

Whakamaru was one of Earth’s largest eruptions, and the reconstruction helps explain how rare supereruptions start and spread.

The findings improve understanding of the geology and hazards of extreme volcanic events near Lake Taupō and the North Island.