Archive for May, 2008

GeoNet Site Expands Volcano Coverage

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

GeoNet has changed its volcano webcam and drum page, allowing it to extend coverage to another eight locations regularly monitored by New Zealand’s vulcanologists.

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Geological Summary for New Zealand Area, April 2008

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Earthquake activity increased slightly. White Island, Mt Ngauruhoe, and Mt Ruapehu remained at Alert Level 1.

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Large Quake, Southern Kermadecs

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

Another large earthquake struck the southern Kermadec Islands this afternoon, New Zealand time.

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Kermadec Quake

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

A large earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands just before midnight Friday, New Zealand time. The magnitude 5.4 quake, which struck at 11:07 p.m. on the 16th of May 2008, was located 110 km south-south-east of L’Esperance Rock (350 km south of Raoul Island) at a depth of 82 km. A smaller quake nearby followed 18 minutes later.

[Compiled from data supplied by the U.S. Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]

China’s Chengdu Earthquake

Friday, May 16th, 2008

With the death toll still rising, Monday’s earthquake in China’s Sichuan Basin is the most deadly to strike the quake-prone region in more than 75 years.

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Hydro Lakes Seriously Low During April

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

New Zealand’s hydro-electric storage lake levels remained seriously low during April 2008. Levels were dramatically lower than April last year, electricity demand was steady and inflows were seriously deficient.

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April 2008 Wetter Than Normal

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Tawa’s climate during April 2008 was wetter than normal, although more than half of the month’s total fell on two days. Temperatures were close to normal, with the average temperature up slightly, but the highest temperature was lower than that previously recorded for April since records began in 2003.

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Elevated Unrest at Mt. Ruapehu

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Tuesday May 13, 2008: GNS Science issued an alert bulletin for Mount Ruapehu this morning.

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The Independent Republic of Tawa East

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Stung by the totally scurrilous claim that occupants of the sunny eastern hills of the Vale of Tawa were “from the wrong side of the tracks,” a small but determined bunch decided to take action recently.

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Large Quake Near White Island

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

A large earthquake struck near White Island this morning. The magnitude 5.7 quake, which struck at 5:22 a.m. on Sunday 4th May 2008, was located 170 km north-east of White Island at a depth of 170 km. The epicentre was 220 km north-east of Whakatane, 150 km north of Te Araroa.

The quake was reported felt in the Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay area and in some Wellington suburbs.

[Compiled from data provided by the Geonet project and its sponsors EQC, GNS Science and FRST.]

Wobbly Chilly Welly

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

Wellingtonians were woken just after three this morning by the largest of four earthquakes to have been felt in the region this morning. The shallow quakes have been scattered across both islands.

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Kermadec Earthquakes

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Two earthquakes struck the Kermadec Islands overnight.

The first quake struck at 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday 30th April 2008. The magnitude 5.3 event was located 235 km north-east of Raoul Island at a depth of 42 km. A magnitude 4.7 quake then struck at 1:06 this morning. This event was located 90 km south-west of Raoul Island at a depth of 176 km.

[Compiled from data supplied by the U.S. Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]

Heavy Rain at Tawa

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Heavy rain in the southern part of the Wellington region overnight has caused surface flooding and kept the Fire Service busy.

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