S. J. Barker

The deadly 9 December 2019 eruption at Whakaari (White Island) in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty reminded the world of the variety of volcanoes in New Zealand capable of causing major impacts on modern society. However, the magnitude of this event was very small in comparison with other eruptions in the area’s geological past.

By the time the eruption ended about 5 weeks later, a new island had formed. In late December 2014, an undersea volcano erupted between two small islands in the Tonga volcanic arc northeast of New Zealand, sending steam and dense ash plumes high into the air. By the time the eruption ended about 5 weeks later, a new island had formed, eventually bridging the gap between the original islands. Winds and ocean waves then began rapidly reshaping the newly emerged volcanic cone.