Listen: Have this page read to you [1] Have this page read to you [2] A volcano is an opening (or vent) in the surface of the earth or sea floor where magma comes out. This volcanic debris piles up or spreads out to produce many different kinds of volcanic rocks and landforms. Many of New Zealand s landscape features have been shaped over several million years by volcanic activity. A volcano is an opening (or vent) in the surface of the earth or sea floor where magma comes out. Much of New Zealand s landscape has been shaped over several million years by volcanoes. Plate Tectonics Most volcanoes are formed by the movement of tectonic plates on the surface of the earth. These plates are basically huge pieces of rock that float on the mantle. The tectonic plates are in very slow, constant motion. Sometimes they move towards each other, other times they move apart, and still other times one will sink while the other rises above it. Subduction zone Beneath New Zealand, the Pacific tectonic plate is colliding with the Australian tectonic plate and is being forced down into the Earth s mantle. This creates a zone of stress, called a subduction zone. Most of the North Island s active volcanoes are associated with this process. Magma As the Pacific plate is forced down into the mantle, the oceanic crust, which caps the Pacific plate, begins to heat up. Under increasing pressure and temperature, the former crustal material undergoes chemical reactions and molten magma is formed. This magma is very hot and contains gases making it lighter than the surrounding mantle. It rises towards the surface of the Earth at weak points in the Earth s crust. Once this magma reaches the surface at the vent it is called lava (if it erupts passively) or tephra (if it is blasted apart explosively in the vent). Taupo volcanic zone The volcanic region of the central North Island is called the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It is made up of a line of active and potentially active andesite stratovolcanoes (volcanic cones) stretching from Ruapehu in the south to White Island in the north. Page 1 of 13
Auckland volcanic field Unlike the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the volcanoes of Auckland are not related to a plate boundary. Instead, they have formed in the middle of a plate. This sort of activity is known as intraplate volcanism. Sometimes these areas of intraplate volcanism are referred to as hotpots or mantle plumes. The source of magma in these areas is the mantle. The type of magma produced in these areas is called basalt. Monogenetic eruptions The Auckland volcanic field is made up of monogenetic volcanoes, which means they use up all of their magma during the eruptive period, and each new magma batch or 'bubble' produces a new volcano. That is why there are so many individual volcanoes in the Auckland volcanic field. Frequently active versus dormant volcanoes In New Zealand, volcanoes can be divided into two groups: 1. Frequently active volcanoes such as White Island, Tongariro-Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and Raoul Island in the Kermadecs. 2. Dormant (sleeping) volcanoes such as the Auckland Volcanic Field, Mayor Island, Rotorua, Okataina, Taupo, Taranaki and the volcanic fields in Northland. The North Island is home to all of New Zealand s active volcanoes today. The South Island s volcanic heritage belongs to a more distant past but is still evident today at sites such as the Takitimu Mountains, Mount Tapuaenuku, Mount Somers, Oamaru, Otago Peninsula, Banks Peninsula, Timaru and Solander Island. Page 2 of 13
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Ready for a quiz? [3] [3] Plate Tectonics The Earth s crust is made up of large pieces of rock called tectonic plates. These plates float on the mantle. Tectonic plates are always moving. Most volcanoes are formed by the movement of tectonic plates. Subduction zone Magma A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is forced towards the centre of the Earth by another tectonic plate. North Island volcanoes are formed as the Pacific plate is forced into the mantle. The ocean crust, which covers the Pacific plate, begins to heat up as it is forced into the mantle. Magma is formed from high pressure and high heat. The magma rises towards the surface. Once this magma reaches the surface at a vent it is called lava. Taupo volcanic zone A volcanic region of the central North Island. The volcanoes are formed where tectonic plates meet. There are active volcanoes here. Auckland volcanic field The volcanoes of Auckland are not formed where tectonic plates meet. Page 5 of 13
Instead, they have formed in the middle of a plate. Sometimes these areas are called hotspots or mantle plumes. Monogentic eruptions The Auckland volcanic field is made up of monogenetic volcanoes. These volcanoes use up all of their magma during the eruption. Each new magma 'bubble' makes a new volcano. That is why there are so many volcanoes in the Auckland volcanic field. Frequently active versus dormant volcanoes New Zealand volcanoes can be put into two groups: 1. Frequently active volcanoes; e.g. Tongariro-Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu 2. Dormant (sleeping) volcanoes; e.g. the Auckland Volcanic Field, Mayor Island. The North Island has the only active volcanoes. The South Island s volcanoes were active a very long time ago, but not any more. Page 6 of 13
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Ready for a quiz? [3] Māori keywords: [3] Audio Maori keywords: puia - volcano [4] Rūaumoko - god of earthquakes and volcanoes [5] pahūtanga - eruption [6] tehepuia - lava [7] pahū - erupt [8] You could find the name of your nearest active or extinct volcano. How did it form? You could find the name of your nearest active or extinct volcano. How did it form? Page 10 of 13
[9] New Zealand lies on a collision boundary between two tectonic plates. This animation shows what can happen to land when plates move (black arrows) under power from convection currents in the mantle (red arrows). Note: click Shift-refresh/reload to see the animation again. Image: LEARNZ. [10] A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is forced towards the centre of the earth by another tectonic plate. Image: LEARNZ. Page 11 of 13
[11] Volcanoes erupt when magma reaches the surface of the Earth. Image: LEARNZ. [12] Volcanoes in the Taupo volcanic zone are formed where tectonic plates meet. Image: LEARNZ. [13] Page 12 of 13
The volcanoes of Auckland are not formed where tectonic plates meet. Instead, they have formed in the middle of a plate. Image: LEARNZ. [14] There are 48 volcanoes in the Auckland volcanic field. Image: Dr. Les Kermode. Source URL: http://www.learnz.org.nz/whatstheplanstan164/volcanoes Links [1] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/std-volcanoes.mp3?uuid=5a68 9de63973f [2] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/easy-volcanoes.mp3?uuid=5a6 89de6391c4 [3] http://activities.learnz.org.nz/wp164/wp164-a07-volcanoes/quiz.html [4] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/puia_8.mp3?uuid=5a689de63987a [5] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/ruaumoko_4.mp3?uuid=5a689d e63997a [6] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/pahutanga_3.mp3?uuid=5a689 de639a71 [7] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/tahepuia.mp3?uuid=5a689de6 39b5a [8] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/pahu.mp3?uuid=5a689de639c40 [9] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/bg-volcanoes-01.gif [10] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/bg-volcanoes-02.jpg [11] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/bg-volcanoes-03.jpg [12] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/bg-volcanoes-04.jpg [13] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/bg-volcanoes-05.jpg [14] http://www.learnz.org.nz/sites/learnz.org.nz/files/bg-volcanoes-06.jpg Page 13 of 13