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Science Deadline: Auckland's unpredictable volcanoes
Science Deadline: Auckland's unpredictable volcanoes, quad bikes safety
Unpredictable volcanic
past
Auckland's volcanic past has been punctuated
by periods of heightened activity and thousands of years of
silence, according to two new research
papers.
Researchers from the
DEVORA (Determining Volcanic Risk in Auckland) research
programme used argon-argon age dating to gather more precise
timings of eruptions in the Auckland Volcanic Field. The
oldest eruption (Pupuke) dates back to approximately 200,000
years ago, with youngster Rangitoto erupting a mere 500
years ago.
The two studies have been published in the
Bulletin of Volcanology and
the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal
Research.
At least half of the eruptions
occurred in the last 60,000 years, which GNS Science senior
scientist Dr Graham Leonard said was
“geologically speaking, a short period of
time”.
“On the other hand, the volcanic field has
also gone quiet for up to 10,000 years in the last 60,000
years, which is quite a long gap. This new research is
exciting because it has allowed us to further define when
eruptions have occurred which has helped us flesh out an
eruption timeline.”
Dr Leonard told Radio NZ that
while scientists had been chipping away at the dates for the
Auckland eruptions, but before these new studies only knew
the ages of about 12 of the 53 volcanoes in the Auckland
Volcanic Field.
“It’s been active for at least
200,000 years, with at least half of them, probably more, in
the last 60,000 years, that means the rate increased about
60,000 years ago. Which means it’s probably a relatively
young volcanic field and it’s definitely still
active.”
Quoted: Radio NZ
"Like it or not, we are now in the age of plastic."
AUT's Professor Allan Blackman on our dependency on plastic.
Co-operate on quad
safety
Researchers in New Zealand and Australia
examining the number of quad bike fatalities in both
countries say there should be a combined approach to
tackling safety issues.
The study, published this week in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, examined the coronial files from 101 quad-related fatalities: 69 in Australia and 32 in New Zealand. They found the fatality rates were similar between countries, and most involved males, occurred on farms and about half were work-related.
University of Otago’s Dr Rebbecca Liley told Newstalk ZB the results supported a “harmonised approach” between the two countries, where prevention efforts were co-ordinated and could join forces to advocate engineering improvements from the vehicles’ offshore manufacturers.
Most of the injuries involved a ‘rollover’, but while a 2014 report recommended roll bars, no new safety measures have been enforced.
Policy news & developments
Contaminated mines remediated: The top two most contaminated sites in the country have been remediated, the Prohibition and Alexander mines on the West Coast.
Great walk construction to start: Construction is set to start at the end of the month for the new great walk in Paparoa National Park, on the West Coast, in memory of the 29 men who died in the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster.
Springs tribunal appointed: A
special tribunal to consider the Waikoropupū Springs
application for a Water Conservation order has been
appointed.
Women in Science Wikipedia Workshop
Royal Society Te Apārangi and Victoria University of Wellington are hosting a Wikipedia edit-a-thon to add and improve articles on women in New Zealand science.
A Wikipedia workshop is an all-day event where people improve Wikipedia’s coverage of a particular topic. Led by an experienced Wikipedia editor, participants learn to create and edit pages, correct mistakes, add references, and upload photos.
Complete beginners are welcome; training and troubleshooting is provided.
Details: 10am-4pm Sunday 6 August, Royal Society Te Apārangi, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington. Learn more on how to prepare and register.
Appendicitis cancer
link
Getting appendicitis when you’re over 45
could be the first sign of underlying colorectal cancer,
according to a study published today in the New
Zealand Medical Journal.
Science Media Centre NZ
Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
The Science Media Centre is New Zealand's only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
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