A team of earthquake geologists, seismologists and engineering seismologists from GNS Science, NIWA, University of Canterbury, and Victoria University of Wellington have collectively produced an update of the 2002 national probabilistic seismic hazard (PSH) model for New Zealand. The new model incorporates over 200 new onshore and offshore fault sources, and utilises newly developed New Zealand-based scaling relationships and methods for the parameterisation of the fault and subduction interface sources. The background seismicity model has also been updated to include new seismicity data, a new seismicity regionalisation, and improved methodology for calculation of the seismicity parameters. Background seismicity models allow for the occurrence of earthquakes away from the known fault sources, and are typically modelled as a grid of earthquake sources with rate parameters assigned from the historical seismicity catalogue. The Greendale Fault, which ruptured during the M7.1, 4 September 2010 Darfield earthquake, was unknown prior to the earthquake. However, the earthquake was to some extent accounted for in the PSH model. The maximum magnitude assumed in the background seismicity model for the area of the earthquake is 7.2 (larger than the Darfield event), but the location and geometry of the fault are not represented. Deaggregations of the PSH model for Christchurch at return periods of 500 years and above show that M7-7.5 fault and background source-derived earthquakes at distances less than 40 km are important contributors to the hazard. Therefore, earthquakes similar to the Darfield event feature prominently in the PSH model, even though the Greendale Fault was not an explicit model input.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake Commission Public Meeting at the SBS Events Centre. Left to right: Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew and Reid Stiven, representing the Earthquake Commission (EQC), listen to a query during the meeting, which was held to inform the public about making claims to the EQC relating the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 4 September".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake Commission Public Meeting at the SBS Events Centre. Reid Stiven, representing the Earthquake Commission (EQC), responds to a query during the meeting, which was held to inform the public about making claims to the EQC relating the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 4 September. The meeting was hosted by Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew (left)".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key, right, visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 04:35 Saturday morning. Mayor Bob Parker, at front left, took him on a tour of the city which was punctuated by a fire breaking out in a building on Worcester Street. The tour party watches the fire".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key, right, visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 04:35 Saturday morning. Mayor Bob Parker, at front left, took him on a tour of the city which was punctuated by a fire breaking out in a building on Worcester Street. The tour party watches the fire".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key, centre, visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 04:35 Saturday morning. Mayor Bob Parker took him on a tour of the city which was punctuated by a fire breaking out in a building on Worcester Street. MP John Carter, and Key look at the damage".
Some of the recent aftershocks located around Banks Peninsula since the 7.1 earthquake have resulted in renewed hot springs activity with the distinct sulphurous smells being the result of deep seated water reaching the surface. Known hot springs are located at Motukarara, Rapaki Bay, Heathcote Valley, and Purau. You can see here a small man-ma...
Manchester Courts, a seven-storey building on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, is a category one historic place built in 1905-1906 that up until the 7.1 earthquake, housed offices. News of the scheduled demolition provoked an emotional response from the people of Christchurch. UPDATE 14 October 2010: A group of residents is campaig...
Some of the recent aftershocks located around Banks Peninsula since the 7.1 earthquake have resulted in renewed hot springs activity with the distinct sulphurous smells being the result of deep seated water reaching the surface. Known hot springs are located at Motukarara, Rapaki Bay, Heathcote Valley, and Purau. You can see the distant crater r...
Manchester Courts, a seven-storey building on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, is a category one historic place built in 1905-1906 that up until the 7.1 earthquake, housed offices. News of the scheduled demolition provoked an emotional response from the people of Christchurch. UPDATE 14 October 2010: A group of residents is campaig...
A graph shows an earthquake registering 7.1 on the Richter scale and $2 billion on the 'Wreckter' scale. An arrow shoots upwards from the $2 billion anticipating that the cost will rise higher. Text above reads 'SIZE-mic does matter'. Refers to the Christchurch earthquake of Saturday 4th September 2010 and the cost of the damage. No-one was killed. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake Commission Public Meeting at the SBS Events Centre. Reid Stiven, representing the Earthquake Commission (EQC), responds to a query during the meeting, which was held to inform the public about making claims to the EQC relating to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 4 September. The meeting was hosted by Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew (left)".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Earthquake Commission public meeting at the SBS Events Centre. Left to right at back: Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew and Reid Stiven, representing the Earthquake Commission (EQC), listen to a query during the meeting, which was held to inform the public about making claims to the EQC relating to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on 4 September".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Christchurch begins the slow recovery process after last weeks devastating 7.1 earthquake. Laura and Angus Chisholm pictured at their property off Harewood Road. Ironically their property was seriously damaged by a boy racer who careered off the road and smashed through their garden fence and hit the front of the house knocking part of it off its foundations".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Brooklands area is having a street party to lift their spirits as their area is a mess after the September 4 M7.1 earthquake. The Wichman family enjoy the Brookland festivities from on top a water pipe that was thrust from the ground during the earthquake. Dallas (F), Claire (M), Charlie, 2, and Theo, nine months".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "The Brooklands area is having a street party to lift their spirits as their area is a mess after the September 4 M7.1 earthquake. The Wichman family enjoy the Brookland festivities from on top a water pipe that was thrust from the ground during the earthquake. Dallas (F), Claire (M), Charlie, 2, and Theo, nine months".
The result of the magnitude 7.1 Christchurch earthquake at 4.35am on September 4th 2010. Taken from Dallington Terrace looking towards Avonside Drive. This pumping station used to be level. When the tide is in that flax bush on the bend appears to be growing from the middle of the river, suggesting the land has slumped about a meter.
Here's Prarie, outside our flat, the day after the 7.1 earthquake hit Christchurch. You see the damage to the street, which continued through our flat. We were forced to move out once an engineer examined the cracks in our balcony, walls, floors, and ceilings, and told us the building was unsafe for living. One crack ran from the street, pres...
Christchurch city experienced a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on September 4, at 4:35 am. The epicentre was 40 km west of the city. It is the most damaging earthquake in New Zealand since the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931, but there was no loss of life. It was fortunate the earthquake occurred when the central city streets were deserted, as there ...
Cars on SH71 near Rangiora.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 4:35 am on September 4, 2010 here in Christchurch. There was damage and destruction to buildings but no loss of life. Five months later (22nd Feb, 2011) the city was struck by another quake. This time we weren't so lucky. 185 people lost their lives. Many people lost homes and businesses. The central b...
Members of the public listening to The Eastern, a Lyttelton band, playing at Gap Filler's first project at 832 Colombo Street.
The Christchurch Methodist Church van takes a hit from the falling gable end of the church.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Damage to St. Mary's Anglican Church Timaru resulting from 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake centred near Darfield. (L to R on ground): Archdeacon Andrew Starky; Vicar Indrea Alexander and Concillor Ray Bennett watch as Craig Perkins and Kevin Deam are hoisted by crane to remove damaged spires from the church tower. (L to R): Builder Kevin Deam and St. Mary's parishioner Craig Perkins inspect a damaged spire on the church tower".
When I lived in Christchurch back in 2004-2005, this was a building I went past on the bus every day to get to and from work in the city. After the big quake on 04/09/10 (7.1 magnitude), its been seriously damaged. As have many more of the shops in this area. Thankfully no lives were lost in the quake, and I'm glad I wasnt there to feel it eith...
Page 71 of a Downtown advertising feature in the Christchurch Press, published on Thursday 14 October 2010.