Shane Rooyakkers
2024: Dr Shane Rooyakkers of Te Pū Ao GNS Science will study volcanic activity along the Tonga-Kermadec arc, a 2500 km-long chain of volcanoes spanning from Tonga to the central Te Ika-a-Māui North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand
Many of these volcanoes represent significant regional hazards with frequent eruptions and the potential to generate tsunami. Understanding the hazards posed by both submarine and on-land volcanoes is essential to preparing for, and mitigating the impacts of, future eruptions. Dr Rooyakkers will reconstruct the processes of past eruptions of onshore volcanoes, Ōkataina and Taupō, and submarine volcanos by analysing erupted materials and combining geologic and geophysical data with seafloor mapping. This research will provide greater understanding of volcanic processes along the Tonga-Kermadec arc, which will improve volcano monitoring and hazard planning.
Dr Rooyakkers near an active volcano (Supplied)