Crustal deformation using GPS and InSAR analysis at Taupo volcano, New Zealand

Taupo Volcano, located in the central part of the TVZ (Taupo volcanic Zone), North Island of New Zealand, is one of the most productive Rhyolitic centres in the world. Although its last eruption occurred about 1800 years ago, 16 periods of unrest have been identified including surface deformation, hydrothermal eruptions, and seismic swarms since 1870. The town of Taupo lies on the north-eastern shore of the lake filling the caldera of the volcano and is located close to recent seismic swarms and local surface deformation episodes highlighted in this report. The aim of this work is to study the different periods of episodic deformation, contrasting with the long-term deformation of the Taupo region, in order to constrain the sources generating local deformation. For this, an analysis of GPS (continuous and campaign stations) and InSAR data (from two satellites, EnviSAT and ALOS) was conducted. After correcting the data for several external factors such as subsidence generated by water pumping in the Wairakei-Tauhara geothermal station and displacements associated with slow slip events along the Hikurangi subduction interface, periods of local deformation have been identified. We highlight two periods of uplift with rates of 10 mm/yr in 2004-2008 and in 2011-2013 accompanied by more or less rapid horizontal deformation punctuated by seismic swarms. The geodetic data were inverted to characterize the deformation sources using the GBIS software, allowing the use of different analytical models. In order to explain the different periods of deformation over time, at least three sources at different locations are needed, revealing the presence of different processes at depths ranging from ∼ 10 km to ∼ 0.5 km and whose causes can vary given the complexity of the tectonic context characterizing the region.