The first stage of New Zealand’s tsunami monitoring network has gone live, offering data from four tide gauges to the public in near real-time.
Archive for April, 2008
Tsunami Network Goes Live
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008Strong Earthquake, Vanuatu
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008A strong, very shallow earthquake struck off-shore between Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands this morning.
Generating Electricity from Cook Strait Currents
Monday, April 28th, 2008Neptune Power Limited is pressing ahead with a proposal to generate electricity from a trial generator in Cook Strait.
Strong Quake Near Auckland Islands
Sunday, April 27th, 2008A strong earthquake struck near the Auckland Islands late this morning, the fourth significant quake to have struck New Zealand territory today.
It’s Our Local
Saturday, April 26th, 2008The ANZAC Day commemoration and holiday fell on a Friday this year, making for a short week and creating that unusual experience known as a Fantom Friday (Phantom Phriday?). So, an intrepid band of Tawa locals decided to break with tradition and visited their local pub, The Roundabout, on a Thursday (Thirstday?) night.
ANZAC Day 2008
Friday, April 25th, 2008There is a small but growing group who feel that we should make ANZAC Day our national day, moving the emphasis away from Waitangi Day which has attracted so much protest in recent years.
Increased Activity at Mt. Ruapehu
Thursday, April 24th, 2008GNS Science issued an alert bulletin for Ruapehu volcano yesterday, the 23rd of April 2008, reporting increased activity.
Earthquakes Near Fiji & Kermadec Islands
Saturday, April 19th, 2008Two earthquakes struck the South Pacific this morning, one near Fiji the other near the Kermadec Islands.
Gisborne Quake Claims Pass $30 Million
Monday, April 14th, 2008Claims for damage caused by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake off the coast near Gisborne on the 20th of December 2007 have now passed $30 million.
In figures released today, disaster insurer EQC reports that 4,610 claims from the Gisborne area total $28,041,463 whilst another 121 claims from Wairoa add up to $613,203. A further 1,374 claims from other areas comprise $2,237,457 bringing total claims to $30,892,123.
Vanuatu Quakes Move South
Saturday, April 12th, 2008The earthquake activity that commenced undersea between Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands overnight on the 9th and 10th of April has continued, but magnitudes have eased, and the centre of activity has drifted south.
Major Quake, Southern Ocean
Saturday, April 12th, 2008A major earthquake struck the Southern Ocean at half-past midday today, Saturday 12th April 2008 New Zealand time.
The magnitude 7.3 earthquake, which struck at 12:30 p.m. was located 110 km south-south-west of Macquarie Island (755 km south-west of Auckland Island) at a depth of 10 km. The epicentre is about 1400 km south-west of Dunedin.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a bulletin at 12:44 indicating that no tsunami threat existed for coastlines in the Pacific. However, it added, “This centre monitors only a limited number of sea level gauges outside the Pacific so it may not be able to quickly detect or measure a tsunami if one was generated.”
[Compiled from data supplied by the U.S. Geological Survey and its contributing agencies; and the U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.]
Strong Earthquakes Near Vanuatu
Thursday, April 10th, 2008A burst of strong earthquake activity struck the vicinity of Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands overnight. The cluster of 9 earthquakes, which began just before midnight New Zealand time included 3 quakes of 6th magnitude and one event of 7th magnitude before easing just after 4 a.m.
March 2008 Warmer Than Normal
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008Tawa’s climate during March 2008 was warmer than normal, continuing the trend set in March 2007 which was the warmest and driest since 2004, and similar to temperatures experienced during March 2003.
Geological Summary for New Zealand Area, March 2008
Monday, April 7th, 2008Earthquake activity continued at a low level and White Island, Mt Ngauruhoe, and Mt Ruapehu remained at Alert Level 1.
February 2008 Typical for the Time of Year
Friday, April 4th, 2008Tawa’s climate during February 2008 was typical for the time of year, being warm sunny and relatively dry. Temperatures did not reach the highs recorded in February 2005, but the average temperature was very close to that recorded during the previous two years.