Three shallow earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.8 and 5.8 have struck north of the Tongan capital Nuku’Alofa in recent days.
Archive for May, 2007
Earthquakes Near Tonga
Tuesday, May 29th, 2007Hawke’s Bay Earthquakes
Sunday, May 27th, 2007Three earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.4 and 4.1 struck the Hawke’s Bay area overnight.
Late Reprieve for Hydro Lakes
Saturday, May 26th, 2007Above average inflows during the past week have given New Zealand’s hydro storage lakes a much-needed boost.
Studying Slow Slip Earthquake Events
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007The EQC Fellow in Seismic Studies, Dr John Townend, is leading a project to determine whether a low-pitched rumble accompanies slow slip earthquakes in New Zealand.
Kermadec Earthquakes
Friday, May 18th, 2007A moderately strong earthquake struck the central Kermadec Islands this morning. The magnitude 5.8 quake struck at 7:29 a.m. on Friday May 18th 2007 New Zealand time, at a depth of 35 km at a location 155 km SSW of Raoul Island.
Geological Summary for New Zealand Area, April 2007
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007Earthquake activity continued at a low level. White Island, Mt Ngauruhoe, and Mt Ruapehu remained at Alert Level 1.
Matata Quake Count Near 700
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007Nearly 700 earthquakes have been identified in the earthquake swarm which has been occurring near Matata in the Bay of Plenty since December 2006. GNS Science has released a small article comparing the current earthquake swarm with the 2005 event during which more than 1000 quakes were identified.
Central New Zealand Earthquakes
Monday, May 14th, 2007A short series of earthquakes struck central New Zealand overnight, following a moderately strong deep earthquake near Nelson.
April 2007 Typical for the Time of Year
Friday, May 11th, 2007Tawa’s climate during April 2007 was cooler and drier than April last year but similar to conditions recorded in the period 2003 to 2005.
Serious Decline in Hydro Lake Storage
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007New Zealand’s hydro-electric lake levels passed below storage levels at the same time last year on April 22nd and, since the beginning of April, the steady decline has closely paralleled the trend seen during the energy shortage year 1992.
South Pacific Earthquakes
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007Earthquake activity has continued near Samoa and Fiji following yesterday’s two strong earthquakes near Fiji.
Further analysis by the US Geological Survey has revised the first of yesterday’s earthquakes near Fiji upward to magnitude 6.5 at the slightly shallower depth of 678 km. The second quake, which struck nearby 50 minutes later remains at magnitude 6.2 at a depth of 705 km.
Strong Earthquakes Near Fiji
Monday, May 7th, 2007Two strong, deep earthquakes struck south-east of Fiji this morning.
A magnitude 6.4 quake struck 265 km ESE of Suva, Fiji at a depth of 688 km at 9:12 a.m. on Monday May 7th 2007, New Zealand time.
It was followed by a magnitude 6.2 quake centred 255 km ESE of Suva at a depth of 705 km at 10:01 a.m.
[Compiled from data supplied by the US Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]
Goodness Me
Sunday, May 6th, 2007I was happily gnawing on a piece of toast the other morning when my eye fell upon the tail-end of the plastic bag that the bread had arrived in.
“baked in goodness” it said.
My knowledge of New Zealand geography is good but not encyclopaedic. “Where in New Zealand is Goodness?” I wondered.
Kermadec Earthquakes
Friday, May 4th, 2007Two moderately strong earthquakes struck near the Kermadec Islands this morning.
The first quake struck 280 km south of L’Esperance Rock at 1:56 a.m. on Friday May 4th 2007. The magnitude 5.7 earthquake was 10 km deep.
The second event was a magnitude 5.2 quake at a depth of 217 km, located 225 km north of Raoul Island at 5:25 a.m.
[Compiled from data supplied by the US Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]
Rapid Decline in Crater Lake at White Island
Friday, May 4th, 2007The level of the crater lake at White Island volcano has dropped rapidly during March and April. At the beginning of March 2007, the lake was 9 metres below overflow, but this has rapidly declined by 19 metres.