Maurice & Katia Krafft: Lives Dedicated to Volcanology

Volcanoes are one of the most formidable, visually awe-inducing and difficult to study natural disaster phenomena that planet Earth boasts. Eruptions of the past mark distinct periods in history and are part of local lore. More recent eruptions, such as the Tongan eruption and White Island (Whakaari) have caused devastation and turmoil. Aotearoa has distinct volcanism, which is responsible for a lot of the geographic features of our country [1]. And Tāmaki Makaurau is quite frankly littered with them: the Auckland Volcanic Field has approximately 53 monogenetic volcanoes [2], which are considered active by the Auckland Emergency Management page [3].

Figure 1: Image of a shield volcano, from Jonatan Pie on Unsplash. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/g6tqHx0ME1o

Figure 2: Te Puia o Whakaari/White Island crater, taken by Margaret Matild and retrieved from https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_library-photography-93444?p=2&pht=True&k=volcano&ordinal=8

The iconic Rangitoto, four kilometres from Auckland’s North Shore, erupted relatively recently [4]. Not to fear, though: GeoNet monitors activity of the network, monitoring for signs of imminent eruptions. A caveat to this soothing data-driven ‘not to worry’ comment; Auckland volcanoes are characterised by their low viscosity basaltic magma [2] (found in shield volcanoes- of which Rangitoto is one), which means predicting an eruption is challenging. Volcanoes produce a great deal of poetic irony; in all their destruction, their aftermaths provide some of the most fertile land on earth, thanks to the ash that rains down post-eruption [5].

The unpredictability of any eruption is part of their awful mystique. Much of what we know about volcanic eruptions comes from a French couple, Katia and Maurice Krafft. These volcanologists travelled the world, photographing, filming, and studying active volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. They wrote countless articles, authored books (both together and separately), documented eruptions, and collected samples of rock, ash, etc. The couple themselves describe volcanoes as “a bomb whose fuse is always lit, but the length of the fuse is unknown”.

Now, Fire of Love (a National Geographic documentary), composed of deep archive footage from the volcanologists themselves. It documents the fruits of two lives dedicated to the pursuit of understanding the ‘mineral world’, as Katia puts it. The film itself is beautifully done, stitching hours of content into a coherent narrative about discoveries made in the field. Full of delightful, jovial moments from talk-show appearances, and interviews with the charismatic duo, one gains an appreciation for the genuine adoration and admiration the pair had for both each other and volcanology. As a scientist, it is inspiring to see findings displayed so playfully and wonderfully by the scientists themselves. This effervescent side is balanced out by the awe-inspiring footage of lava rivers, rocks falling like rain, trees blown sideways by a blast, as if felled- things that make one feel entirely negligible in the grand scheme of things. In one scene, Maurice and a colleague set out upon a sulfuric acid lake in a rubber boat. He had a goal: a recurring conversation piece, of boating down a lava river. Such a fearless approach to beggars' belief; even more so when these lava flows are visualised by the dreamer himself. Shots of Maurice standing aside these intense flows as if it were a local creek are simply awe-inspiring.

Their contributions to the natural sciences were immense, even more so when you consider the peril they faced to gain such knowledge of the dynamic nature of volcanoes. To start with the obvious, they documented hours of moments that could be analysed over and over, and re-visited to gain more insight.

The information that most will take away from the documentary is the distinction between red and grey volcanoes. The Kraffts began their careers investigating both, but once they saw the widespread destruction of the latter, they narrowed their focus on grey volcanoes. Red and grey volcanoes are named rather intuitively. Grey eruptions are capable of producing pyroclastic flows, which are what make these types of volcanoes so deadly. Pyroclastic flows are composed of a wide range of materials and are ejected explosively (usually from a vent). Their unpredictable composition, high temperatures and speeds make them incredibly deadly. The Kraffts moved to become experts in grey volcanoes over the course of their careers, after seeing the widespread destruction and devastation that greys cause.

Their philosophy and attitude towards science is a solemn yet passion-filled exercise. The pair often speak throughout the documentary of their early journey into the field being motivated by a loss of faith in humanity. While this seems like a sombre origin, their worldview is decidedly ominous yet inspiring, summed up best in their assertion that “the unknown is something to go towards”. Their abundance of passion is charming and reminiscent of so many scientists that dedicate not only their careers, but their lives, to their work. At one point in the documentary, Maurice admits that if he “could eat rocks, I’d stay up here and never come down”.

What the film accomplishes in a sensational way is recounting the impressive life’s work of two pioneers. Their scientific prowess is undeniable, and their findings speak for themselves. However, what I found most striking was their affinity for science communication. Successful science communication is notoriously difficult. And while volcanoes are, of course, an exciting subject matter in the first instance, the workability of the ‘talent’ so to speak, doesn’t take away from the Krafft's ability to inject frivolity, passion and calculated information into the content they shared with the world. The film’s reception worldwide is a testament to this fact.

This science communication prowess was evident in the public eye, with numerous press tours, publications, talk show appearances, and of course, the gorgeous footage they collated. However, it also translated into far more grave matters- the intersection between science and governance. The Kraffts’ work has been used repeatedly to convey the serious nature of eruptions to governments. One of the most famous examples was in 1991, when Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines began to display signs of an eruption. The then-president was shown footage shot by the Kraffts to urge him to evacuate. He agreed, and thousands of lives were saved as a result. This example is just one in a myriad of salient moments of early science communication that the Kraffts undertook.

Maurice and Katia’s deaths in 1991, as a result of their recording of the Mt Unzen eruption in Japan, were a harrowing but poignant end to illustrious careers. The film’s display of their life’s work is a moving tribute, and one worth watching [6].

References

[1] Johnson, R. W., Johnson, R. W., Knutson, J., & Taylor, S. R. (Eds.). (1989). Intraplate volcanism: in eastern Australia and New Zealand. Cambridge University Press.

[2] Hopkins, J. L., Smid, E. R., Eccles, J. D., Hayes, J. L., Hayward, B. W., McGee, L. E., ... & Smith, I. E. (2021). Auckland Volcanic Field magmatism, volcanism, and hazard: a review. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 64(2-3), 213-234.

[3] Volcanoes. Auckland Emergency Management. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.aucklandemergencymanagement.org.nz/hazards/volcanoes

[4] Linnell, T., Shane, P., Smith, I., Augustinus, P., Cronin, S., Lindsay, J., & Maas, R. (2016). Long-lived shield volcanism within a monogenetic basaltic field: the conundrum of Rangitoto volcano, New Zealand. Bulletin, 128(7-8), 1160-1172.

[5] Michaelson, G. J., Wang, B., & Ping, C. L. (2016). Fertility of the early post-eruptive surfaces of Kasatochi Island volcano. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 48(1), 45-59.

[6] National Geographic Documentary Films. (2022). Fire Of Love. Retrieved from https://films.nationalgeographic.com/fire-of-love.

Note: cover image of article from Solen Feyissa on Unsplash. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/GAGkBd9yjqk