Scientists dig holes on the coast of Waiaraba to understand the history of the earthquake and tsunami

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 11:57 a.m. Press release: Earthquake Commission

Scientists have begun digging several pits along the southern coast of Weirarapa to uncover secrets of previous earthquakes and tsunamis to better understand future risks for the Greater Wellington region.

The research near Cape Palliser is part of It’s Our Fault, a project funded by the Earthquake Commission (EQC), Wellington City Council and Wellington District Office of Emergency Management that studies earthquake risks in the area to help communities prepare for a natural disaster.

The distinct natural terraces along the rugged Cape Palliser coast are testament to the tremendous forces that have propelled the sea floor to the surface over the centuries, as seen in Kaikōura in 2016.

“There is strong visual evidence in Cape Palliser and this research will tell us when these earthquakes occurred and hopefully what caused them,” says GNS Science seismic geologist and project leader, Dr. Nicola Litchfield.

Dr. Litchfield says: “As we dig holes, we are looking for clams that died in every event, and by determining the date of those shells with carbon, we can determine when these earthquakes occurred.”

The area was hit by an 11-meter-high tsunami in 1855 as a result of an 8.2-magnitude Wairaraba earthquake, and scientists are working with IUI to identify other previous earthquakes.

“We will work closely with local archaeologists and Iwe because this site has significant remains of ancient Maori settlements,” says Dr. Litchfield.

“It is not clear why and when the local Maori residents left this area, but some archaeologists believe that the sudden departure may have been caused by a tsunami, so it will be interesting to see if we can learn more about it.”

Litchfield explains that scientists have done a lot of similar work along the eastern coast of North Island and the top of the South Island to learn more about the Hicurangi subduction zone and other smaller faults, “so it’s all part of that puzzle.”

“Once we can date the earthquakes on the southern coast of Wairarapa, we compare the data with those at other locations around the Cook Strait, which will tell us about the fault that caused the Earth’s movement,” says Litchfield.

The geologist says the Wellington area is affected by a number of active faults, and a better understanding of the faults affecting different areas will help the region prepare for future events.

EQC’s head of resilience and research, Dr Joe Horrocks, says the “our mistake” research is being used by local authorities to make informed decisions to manage risks, such as local water supplies.

“For example, the project determined that water pipes crossed the Wellington fault at seven locations. The authorities have since stored spare parts near those locations, so the pipes can be repaired quickly in a scenario where the spare parts are difficult to transport,” says Dr. Horrocks.

Wellington City Council is also now subsidizing water tanks so that individual families have the capacity to cope after a natural disaster.

“This is a great example of why EQC wants to support the kind of research that directly impacts how a community is built for more resilience in the face of natural disasters.”

© Scope Media

Join the Scoop Citizen community, 20 years of independent publishing is a milestone, but your support is essential to keep Scoop thriving. We build on what we offer with thedig.nz our new in-depth platform for interactive journalism. Now, more than ever, the sustained financial support of the Scope Foundation for Public Interest Journalism will help keep these dynamic and engaging media services operational. Find out more and join us:

Become a member Find out more

.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos

Picture Credit!