The shaky isles maybe, but better monitoring of earthquake risks in future...

The shaky isles maybe, but better monitoring of earthquake risks in the future...

Being part of the Pacific ring of fire New Zealand is both a volcanic and earthquake risk, although most of New Zealand's volcanoes have been dormant for many years. However earthquake fautlines have been mapped out in New Zealand. Australians love to have a crack about the country being the 'shaky isles'. Better a few shakes than bushfires I reckon.

NIWA says if a large earthquake occurs it will probably be contained to one NZ island; fault lines through Cook Strait have been mapped out.

Scientists hope research into the country's most active seismic risk area will help to better predict earthquakes in the future.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has mapped out fault lines through Cook Strait for the first time. It has found no connections between the major faults running through the North and South Islands, meaning a large earthquake would probably be contained to one island.

Ocean Geology Scientist Dr Philip Barnes says the new fault maps will prove very helpful and give scientists a better idea of the potential locations of future earthquakes and when they might occur. Dr Barnes says the information can be used to predict how an earthquake on one fault might affect another fault.

Earthquake fautlines have been mapped out in New Zealand...

NIWA says if a large earthquake occurs it will probably be contained to one NZ island; fault lines through Cook Strait mapped out




Scientists hope research into the country's most active seismic risk area will help to better predict earthquakes.


The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has mapped out fault lines through Cook Strait for the first time. It has found no connections between the major faults running through the North and South Islands, meaning a large earthquake would probably be contained to one island.

Ocean Geology Scientist Dr Philip Barnes says the new fault maps will prove very helpful and give scientists a better idea of the potential locations of future earthquakes and when they might occur. Dr Barnes says the information can be used to predict how an earthquake on one fault might affect another fault.



Compliments:
© 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

A New Zealand -led group of scientists seeking to find the cause of earthquakes...

A New Zealand -led group of scientists seeking to find the cause of earthquakes by investigating South Island faultline...

Read below:


A New Zealand-led group of scientists wants to find out more about the South Island's most dangerous fault line and gain more of an insight into what causes earthquakes.

The alpine fault, which runs 650km along the spine of the South Island between Milford Sound and Marlborough, ruptures every 200 to 400 years producing an earthquake of about magnitude eight. Its last episode was 291 years ago.

Project leader Dr John Townend says the scientists will drill several kilometres into the fault in the Mt Cook National Park region. They will examine physical and chemical changes taking place inside the fault to find out whether pressure is building towards another rupture.

Dr Townend says it is an ambitious and technically challenging mission and will be the first time that anything on such a scale has been attempted in New Zealand.

Scientists have been awarded $US44,500 to hold a five day workshop in the South Island early next year to plan the project. Up to 50 researchers will attend the event, many coming from overseas.



Compliments:
© 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB


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