New Fault Found in Wellington Harbour...

[Rockhopper]

Geoscience has found another fault under Wellington Harbour. With any luck Parliament Buildings will fall into the sea. Unfortunately because of all the hot air it will probably float!

NIWA scientists have found a new active fault in Wellington Harbour after analysing data from a recent marine survey.

The fault, referred to informally as the Aotea Fault, runs in a northeasterly direction for about 2km in Lambton Harbour, petering out about 1km east of Westpac Stadium.

NIWA marine geologists Drs Philip Barnes, Scott Nodder and Susi Woelz mapped the fault using geophysical techniques as part of the It’s Our Fault research programme led by GNS Science.

This multi-year project is a comprehensive study of the likelihood of large earthquakes in Wellington and their impacts on people and the environment, and aims to make the Wellington region more resilient to earthquakes.

The Aotea Fault formed a scarp about 1 m high on the seafloor and is thought to be capable of moderate to large earthquakes in the order of magnitude M6.3 to M7.1. It has not yet been identified on land but Drs Barnes and Nodder believe it may extend to the south coast of Wellington and beyond into Cook Strait. They believe at least two significant earthquakes have occurred on the fault in the last 10,000 years.

From Here.

Tim.

[Rogue]

Did you feel the 6.1 shake down Invercargill way yesterday Timbo, or was it too far south? And another 6.1 way off the North Island today.

[Rockhopper]

No I didn't Roggie. Heard about them but.

Tim.

[Kaere]

Do y'all find it stressful to live in such a hot earthquake zone? I got used to it living back home but I only ever felt a few very small tremors.

[Rockhopper]

No Ka we get a fatalistic attitude to them. It's just "Oh there's another one," and carry on.

Tim.

[Sponsored content]