Bet you felt that one Nick

[kiwigeo]

5.3 mag at around 5.45pm. Looking at the McQueens Valley drum I can see a cluster of at least 7 aftershocks. For the first few minutes you would have had compressional shocks arriving on top of slower S waves from earlier shocks. Looks like the action is on the eastern end of the Port Hills Fault

[Puff]

I reckon it's the Chathams attempting a break for freedom.

[kiwigeo]

The Chathams will eventually move the other way (westwards). The subduction zone currently off the east side of the N Island is extending southwards over time and Canterbury will eventually feature volcanoes and the Chatams will eventually get scraped off the Pacific Plate and crash into Canterbury as it subducts under the Indian Plate.

Not all bad.......it'll mean cheaper air fares for those travelling to and from the Chathams in 10 million years time.

[Puff]

Is this "subduction zone" anywhere near where Petrobras is exploring?

[kiwigeo]

Is this "subduction zone" anywhere near where Petrobras is exploring?

The Raukumara Basin lies to the north of the Hikurangi Trench (labelled as "Hikurangi Deformation Front" on map below).

[Nick]

Yeah felt that wobble ta Martin, it wasn't too bad...knocked a few pictures over (again!) & went on for about 10-15 seconds (always feels like ages when you're experiencing it), daughter over in Beckenham lost power for about an hour. One of the multi storey buildings in town that was border line post feb has now removed all doubt & is comeing down as I type, more rock falls in Sumner & liquefaction in Bexley. Centred under Purau bay so not too far from & south of the port hills fault.

[kiwigeo]

Centred under Purau bay so not too far from & south of the port hills fault.

Looking at the pattern of faulting it wouldn't surprise me if another fault developed to the east and subparallel to the Port Hills fault. After the Feb 22nd shake all activity shifted from the Greendale Fault to the eastern end of the Port Hills Fault. I'd envisage a similar shift in activity from the Port Hills fault to any new fault that developed to the east....which would be a good thing for the CBD.

[Nick]

Jarg's been getting his mug on the box recently, they're doing a joint venture (just with whom I can't remember off hand ) to try and map all the possible faults running under us. I was quite impressed with one bit of kit, it was a truck with a 4 foot diameter subwoofer pointing down & they were going down the beach, stopping the truck, lowering the sub down & 'firing' a low frequency wave into the sand. Bet there were a few boy racers jealous & wondering how they could fit that particular 'doof doof' into the Toyota Starlet.

[kiwigeo]

Jarg's been getting his mug on the box recently, they're doing a joint venture (just with whom I can't remember off hand ) to try and map all the possible faults running under us. I was quite impressed with one bit of kit, it was a truck with a 4 foot diameter subwoofer pointing down & they were going down the beach, stopping the truck, lowering the sub down & 'firing' a low frequency wave into the sand. Bet there were a few boy racers jealous & wondering how they could fit that particular 'doof doof' into the Toyota Starlet.

You were looking at a vibroseis truck. The sound signal is generated by a large vibrating metal plate underneath the vehicle.

[Puff]

I reckon it's you bastards with your sonics and rumblins lookin for oil that have screwed the whole thing up, You have ungelled the rocks and now they is a slippin and a slidin and us up top is wobblin and a toplin.
No jest Martin.

[kiwigeo]

I reckon it's you bastards with your sonics and rumblins lookin for oil that have screwed the whole thing up, You have ungelled the rocks and now they is a slippin and a slidin and us up top is wobblin and a toplin.
No jest Martin.

Nah mate it's all to do with the moon......

[Nick]

I reckon it's you bastards with your sonics and rumblins lookin for oil that have screwed the whole thing up, You have ungelled the rocks and now they is a slippin and a slidin and us up top is wobblin and a toplin.
No jest Martin.

Might also have something to do with several kilometers of liquid Magma below the plates too

Nah mate it's all to do with the moon......

Stick that up yer Ring

[kiwigeo]

Stick that up yer Ring

Ring's been unusually quiet of late. I notice he's toned down his earthquake related spiel on his website too.