Forest disturbance in the central North Island, New Zealand, following the 1850 BP Taupo eruption

Abstract

The 1850 BP Taupo eruption covered c. 30 000 km2 of the central North Island with airfall deposits and c. 20 000 km2 with ignimbrite. This paper reviews pollen and charcoal analyses of lake and peat sediment cores from sites at various distances and directions from the Taupo vent to establish the effects of this eruption on the surrounding forests. Forests within range of the ignimbrite were destroyed, and forests located up to 170 km east of the vent suffered variable degrees of damage from ashfall. Stands of Pteridium esculentum and other seral taxa flourished immediately after the eruption. Fires occurred during the eruption and continued for several decades after. The degree and nature of vegetation disturbance above the Taupo Tephra varied according to the thickness of ashfall, local topographical features and probably the vigour of the forest. Revegetation was complete within 200 years of the eruption, even at sites overwhelmed by the Taupo Ignimbrite. Post-eruption forests were similar to those existing before the Taupo eruption.