Hydrothermal Eruptions - a Hazard Assessment

Abstract

Although relatively rare, hydrothermal eruptions do pose a potential hazard to users of Natural mechanisms that trigger such eruptions include changes in rainfall (as demonstrated at Wairakei) and barometric pressure, earthquakes, and landslides. Eruptionsmay be indirectly induced by deep pressure drawdown and the creation of a steam zone allowing increased flow of steam to the surface. Although prediction is difficult, mitigation of the hazard may be possible by the factors that increase the risk for a thermal area and monitoring them. The consequences of any man-made impacts on such areas, such as excavation, sealing, flooding, draining, drilling or fluid injection, must be carefully considered beforehand.