Associate Professor Darren Gravley
Position: Associate Professor, University of Canterbury. Field: Volcanology and geothermal systems.
Dr Darren Gravley has a New Zealand mother and an American father. He grew up in Southern California and completed his BA at Claremont McKenna College in Los Angeles.
Dr Darren Gravley
Dr Darren Gravley researches the accumulation of large magma bodies, the processes of caldera eruptions and pyroclastic flows. He was influenced to become a geologist at an early age.
He moved to New Zealand in 1999 where he completed his PhD from Canterbury University. Darren was a research volcanologist and colleague of Dr Jan Lindsay and Dr Phil Shane in the School of Environment, University of Auckland until he returned as a lecturer to the University of Canterbury.
Dr Darren Gravley and pyroclastic deposits
Dr Darren Gravley points out to students various features of the pyroclastic deposits in the St Kentigern College grounds, Auckland.
At a very young age, Darren and 2 friends had the opportunity to go on field trips to several famous geological places in the United States – Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park and Death Valley. Having experienced those remarkable geological landscapes, it was understandable that Darren and his friends all became geologists.
Darren's research is focused on the accumulation of large magma bodies, the processes of caldera eruptions and pyroclastic flows, and the geologic context for geothermal systems.
An early interest in volcanology
Darren Gravley was introduced to geology by a friend’s dad who took them on a number of field trips, including this trip to the Grand Canyon.
Darren investigates the interplay between magmatism, tectonism and volcanism with specific emphasis on the Taupō Volcanic Zone flare-up that occurred between 240,000–340,000 years ago. During this period, approximately 3,000 cubic kilometres of magma erupted from at least 7 different caldera sources, and there is evidence that some of the eruptions overlapped in time.
Darren’s research is closely linked with geothermal energy and exploration, and he works closely with New Zealand geothermal companies. He is also a leading expert in geoscience field education and directs the Frontiers Abroad programmes in Earth and environmental sciences.
This article is based on information current in 2010 and 2018.
