Expert contacts for earthquake coverage

Saturday, 04 September 2010, 11:18 am
Press Release: Science Media Centre

Expert contacts for earthquake coverage

Scientists have described this morning's 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Canterbury as the most significant since the 1931 magnitude 7.8 Hawke's Bay earthquake.

GNS Science duty seismologist John Ristau saidaftershocks were likely to continue for days, even weeks though the largest aftershocks generally occurred within the first 48 hours of a large earthquake.

"A rule of thumb for a large earthquake at a shallow depth such as this is that the largest aftershock will be about one unit of magnitude lower than the main shock," he said.

GNS Science said there are several known active faults under the Canterbury Plains and in the Canterbury foothills, "but at this stage it appears the earthquake
has not occurred on a known fault".

GNS Science has created a useful infographic comparing the magnitude of the earthquake to other major earthquakes in the country back to 1848.

ENDS

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