Geonet

GeoNet is the result of a partnership between the Earthquake Commission (EQC), GNS Science, and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The GeoNet project was established in 2001 to build and operate a modern geological hazard monitoring system in New Zealand. It comprises a network of geophysical instruments, automated software applications and skill... ed staff to detect, analyse and respond to earthquakes, volcanic activity, large landslides, tsunami and the slow deformation that precedes large earthquakes. New Zealanders live on the edge. Depending on their location, it might be the edge of the Australian Plate or it might be the edge of the Pacific Plate. The active Pacific-Australian Plate boundary passes through New Zealand producing earthquakes, volcanoes, steep terrain and active deformation. In places the active boundary between the interacting plates is quite narrow, for example the Alpine Fault and Southern Alps in the central South Island. In other regions, such as most of the central and eastern North Island, it is a broad zone of deformation. Nowhere in New Zealand is immune from the possibilities of damaging earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions could distribute ash anywhere over the North Island. A major event almost anywhere in the country would affect the whole society and economy because of the small size of the country and the interdependencies of infrastructure, logistics and business. When GeoNet was conceived, New Zealand had not suffered major social disruption or serious economic setback due to geological hazards since the 1930s and early 1940s, a period in which large shallow earthquakes struck repeatedly. However, historical evidence and scientific research convincingly showed that risk to the population and economy from geological hazards was significantly greater than the experience of those 'quiet' years would indicate. When the first of the Canterbury earthquakes struck in September 2010, GeoNet was ready. It provides information to people and data to researchers to help us all live in ...Read More