Researchers are using radar technology to examine the seismic history of New Zealand’s only “supervolcano”.

The study, funded by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tu Ake, seeks insights into the “twin threats” of volcanic and seismic activity at the Taupo volcano on the North Island.

Lead researcher James Muirhead says it is one of the world’s most seismically active volcanic regions. In January, more than 50 quakes were recorded in one night.

“These earthquakes can shake up molten rock (magma) deep underground, making it more mobile and explosive,” Dr Muirhead said.  

“As the magma rises, it can also unlock and trigger fault lines, leading to earthquakes. It could be a dramatic feedback loop of seismic and volcanic activity.”    

The supervolcano’s geological history has yet to be fully examined due to the thickness of deposits left by an eruption 1800 years ago.  

But Dr Muirhead, from the University of Auckland, says the region’s dynamic activity presents a “perfect subject for study”.  

“This massive eruption blanketed the land with metres of ash and pumice, making it nearly impossible to track earlier earthquakes in the soil. What we’re left with is a thick volcanic layer, marking a singular moment in time.”  

Dr Muirhead’s team is now using ground-penetrating radar – which he describes as an “X-ray for the earth” – to find areas where volcanic rock layers are thin and can be exposed for research.  

The researchers say it will allow them to examine 25,500 years of earthquake history along the Taupo Fault Belt.  

NHC chief research and resilience officer Jo Horrocks says the study will “shed light on how often earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur together, and the potential scale of these events.

“Understanding these patterns will help communities and emergency planners prepare for the impact of future events.”

A supervolcano is one capable of eruptions of lava, pyroclastic fragments and ash that exceed 1000 cubic kilometres.