Why is Canterbury vulnerable to earthquakes?
Sitting across the boundary of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates makes Canterbury an active landscape. We map earthquake faults and where land is susceptible to liquefaction.
What plate boundary caused the Christchurch earthquake?
The earthquake’s epicentre was located some 25 miles (40 km) west of Christchurch near the town of Darfield, and the focus was located about 6 miles (10 km) beneath the surface. It was caused by right-lateral movement along a previously unknown regional strike-slip fault in the western section of the Canterbury Plains.
Why is NZ prone to earthquakes?
Earthquakes in New Zealand occur because we are located on the boundary of two of the world’s major tectonic plates – the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate. These plates are colliding with huge force, causing one to slowly grind over, under or alongside the other.
What type of plate boundary is Christchurch New Zealand on?
New Zealand sits on top of the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. The two plates slip past each other in the South Island, creating the Alpine Fault. Over time, the motion has built the Southern Alps. The uplift in the mountains makes it easy for geologists to identify the Alpine Fault.
Does Christchurch have a lot of earthquakes?
Christchurch and surrounding areas have experienced major earthquakes since a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 4 September 2010. The earthquakes have had a devastating effect on the central city and the people of Christchurch and surrounding areas.
What fault caused the Christchurch Earthquake 2011?
The earthquake was caused by the rupture of a 15-kilometre-long fault along the southern edge of the city, from Cashmere to the Avon–Heathcote estuary. The fault slopes southward beneath the Port Hills and did not break the surface – scientists used instrument measurements to determine its location and movement.
What were the environmental impacts of the Christchurch earthquake?
The Canterbury earthquakes caused a significant change to the natural environment, including liquefaction, lateral spread near waterways, land level changes, and numerous rockfalls and landslides. Air and water quality were also impacted, with water-based recreational activities halted until November 2011.
How often are earthquakes in Christchurch?
Historic trends and records dating from the 1840s show that, on average, New Zealand can expect several magnitude 6 earthquakes every year, one magnitude 7 every 10 years, and a magnitude 8 every century.
Where was the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand?
Residents of Christchurch, New Zealand, and surrounding communities were rattled awake at 4:35 a.m. on September 4, 2010, when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook the region. As this map shows, the quake was centered about 45 kilometers (30 miles) west of Christchurch.
How many people died in Christchurch NZ?
At least 166 people died, and the city of Christchurch was devastated structurally and emotionally. Many people are still missing. The natural-color image above was captured on March 4, 2011, by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite.
What is the potential for liquefaction at CHCH?
Potential for liquefaction: Chch is located near a saturated, sand and silt coastline Hilly locations: potential for landslides if EQ occurs during rainy periods. Liquefaction can also induce landslides. Alluvium (loose soil and sediment) beneath the city: reduces the structural response at high frequencies and amplify the lower frequency shaking.
What type of waves cause earthquakes to shake?
“S” or secondary waves lead to horizontal shaking. Most structures collapse during the longer-duration S waves because buildings are not designed to handle this side-to-side motion. In Christchurch, the quake occurred so close by that the lag between P and S waves was a mere second.