22/2/11 Earthquake M 6.3 - Christchurch

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Nice rock when i was sitting in my car in a carpark for the 4.1. Interesting scatterting of them today. 6.4 way out to sea, one near Geraldine, one 20km west of Oxford.

[Storm Struck]

I feel for those in Christchurch because i believe this is just the start of a long shaky future ahead, and has been pointed out on the news a few times we could be getting quakes frequently for another 30-50 years.
Apparently the 5.3 magnitude on April 16th was centred on the Port Hills Fault which runs southwards on an angle and under Diamond Harbour where it was centred.
The Western flank of this fault which runs through the Port Hills and east out to Bexley and south Brighton areas is said to be sinking or subducting under, while the southern flank is pushing up.
Something i noticed was the 5.1 magnitude on March 20th which was centred in Wainoni was on the city side of the fault, then a month on nearly the 5.3 which was on the southern side.
You can see a possible trend developing here of strong aftershocks since the big 6.3 which ruptured the fault, one side moves then the other does with a decent jolt until eventually the fault becomes settled for the next few thousand years.
What happens to the eastern part of the city is unknown, but the CBD and out west could well either rise or stay as it is.
As for the other unknown faults across the region including the one under the city, who knows if there will be pressure put on them as well.
Just my input anyway and i am sure the geoligist including the 4 from Calgary Canada are doing everything they can to understand the future of Christchurch and where the faults are exactly.

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

I feel for those in Christchurch because i believe this is just the start of a long shaky future ahead, and has been pointed out on the news a few times we could be getting quakes frequently for another 30-50 years.

Well I wouldnt say they will be frequent for that long, it all depends on whether anything significant strikes again and sets off a new sequence of aftershocks. I mean looking back at the 7.1 fault line, the activity that happens on that is sometimes only every few days and the magnitude is hardly ever over 4 so I never feel anything from that Fault line here anymore and havent for ages. We just need this fault to settle down also without anything else significant. If its shaking for another 30-50years then you might as well say it wont stop shaking again because the Alpine has a high chance in that time frame. Have to remember, it has to stop eventually. Related very small aftershocks of 2 or less will probably occur as earthquakes of that magnitude occur everywhere in NZ all the time but I think in 6 months to a years time we will be unaware of activities occuring. Here is hoping anyways!

[Storm Struck]

Thats right leighton i hope so as well, however i guess the canterbury plains region hasnt had a decent quake for such a long time so all the pressure down there is now being released again.

Heres a great idea an earthquake warning before it hits giving you time to take cover and away from any potential hazards such as glass windows or brick buildings.
A cellphone warning system which is simular to what Japan has, it senses an earthquake and can warn you 8-10 seconds before it hits.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Chch-company-cre ... fault.aspx

[borris89]

just waiting for a connecting flight at the airport and felt that tiny wee shake, hardly recognisable as an earthquake though

[Storm Struck]

The most active day for feeling quakes for awhile here today, this morning there was one and 3 tonight just goes to show mother nature is well and truly still busy down there.

After 7am- 3.7 magnitude Port Hills
7:16pm- 3.9 magnitude Port Hills
8:18pm- 2.9 magnitude Kirwee
10:07pm- 4.1 Magnitude Port Hills

The last one felt like 2 quakes, there was a rolling and a jolt then about a 20 second gap of nothing then another strong jolt .

[bmo]

Does seem like they have gotten stronger during the day, hopefully just a release of pressure and nothing bigger to come. Really wish for you guys down there that the shakes stop soon but feel like they will continue for the next few months.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Really wish for you guys down there that the shakes stop soon but feel like they will continue for the next few months.

No, for the next 25 years or longer, I think it will take underneath here for the shaking to stop, i'm sad to day. So many unheard of fault forms to energize and then decay. Takes a long time.

JohnGaul
NZThS

[Storm Struck]

On canterbury quake live it has the two jolts now, a minute between each other and both over 4 magnitude within 1km of each other.

10:07pm- 4.2 magnitude
10:08pm- 4.3 magnitude

So there goes to the two i felt and so did many others across the city, also a 3.9 magnitude after 2am near Kirwee.

Yes i think canterbury will become a very active region for quakes for some time to come yet, i have heard the geoligists have found another fault which runs in the Barbadoes Street area and across to Kilmore Street.
It will be interesting once they release more information.

[Dale]

Well that one woke me up... 5.2 out @ oxford.. closest one to me yet.

[Storm Struck]

Yeah more a strong rolling quake here didnt jolt as such and there was no rumble with it, went on for about 10-12 seconds.
The area isnt unusual i remember seeing a potential aftershock release in the paper in January and out west was one of the areas, but that certainly is a big jolt for the area.
I didnt feel the 3.8 at 5am slept through it, and i see Gisbourne has had a 4.0 and a 3.9 overnight busy mother nature.
April 29 2011 at 19:08
NZ Standard Time Saturday, April 30 2011 at 7:08 am
Latitude, Longitude 43.18°S, 172.01°E
Focal Depth 9 km
Richter magnitude 5.2
Region Canterbury
Location

* 20 km north of Springfield
* 20 km north-west of Oxford
* 60 km north-west of Christchurch

[Dale]

Mmm.. it takes a fair bit to wake me up however I was sleeping light this morning, so perhaps that had something to do with me noticing it. Spoke to a couple of people down the road in Grey, they didnt feel a thing.

[Lukemyster]

Didn't even feel that one

[Orion]

Noticed the sash-window rattling here, noted the 7.08am time; shifted cups back from the edge of the shelf for the second time this morning (had they been moved by the 5.48am quake? - I wondered why they'd come out of place!).

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

The 5.2 there woke me up but felt like a magnitude 3.5 at the most here. I knew because of its length it was a reasonable new shake somewhere. I even said to a family member 'Thats a new shake somewhere different' because ones that small to last so long was much different. Goes to show being 65km away makes a big difference!

[tich]

First I heard about it was on the radio news - initially suprised I didn't feel it, but then they said where it was centred.

[03Stormchaser]

Felt it here, woke me up. Could tell its wasn't local as there was not the usual jolt to it but could tell it must have been quiet big.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Felt both of them here but then just went back off to sleep. Both rumbled, the first one being quite short but the last one had a bit of a 'dump thunder' effect as the sash window rattled at the end of the vibrations.

JohnGaul
NZThS

[Richard]

Should have felt that one here but didn't,take a straight line from here its not that far away really.

[Thunder]

Well there's another earthquake, what will it be?

[Nev]

The following earthquake has been recorded by GNS Science:

Reference number: 3509905/G
Universal Time: 9 May 2011 at 15:04
NZ Standard Time: Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 3:04 am
Latitude, Longitude: 43.60°S, 172.41°E
Location: 20 km west of Christchurch (Rolleston)
Focal depth: 15 km
Richter magnitude: 5.3

Web page:

Widely felt around Canterbury, possible minor damage.


Update: 'Strong aftershock in Canterbury' - Newstalk ZB

[Richard]

Must have been sound asleep

[snowstormwatcher]

Felt that 5.3 here only slightly though.

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

That was 10km away from here. Knocked over a filing cabinet here. Just layed in bed and rode it out

[Manukau heads obs]

spoken like a true hardened cantabrian!