The Southern Alps have been formed over millennia by upthrust from successive earthquakes on the Alpine Fault. Things to do near Alpine Fault Tours. You can pick out the line of the Alpine Fault on this satellite image of the South Island. The trenches, each of about 20m-long will allow the geologists to take photos and make detailed drawings of the recently deposited strata to a depth of 2m. Although the Alpine Fault accommodates a substantial amount of interplate slip, a significant proportion is distributed to the east within and east of the Southern Alps. Snow on the mountains of the Pacific plate contrasts with the lower land of the Australian plate. Although the Alpine Fault seems so obvious today, but it was not recognised until 1941 by … Movement along the Alpine Fault has uplifted the Southern Alps. The team developed its co-ordinated response discussions around a south-to-north earthquake as it was most likely, she said. 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Whataroa Tourism; Whataroa Hotels; Whataroa Bed and Breakfast; Whataroa Holiday Rentals; Whataroa Packages; Flights to Whataroa; Whataroa Restaurants; Whataroa Attractions Elisabeth, your guide, has a good knowledge of the Alpine Fault, and to be able to straddle 2 tectonic plates was a real moment to remember. Tree ages in this entire region are therefore clustered around the times of major earthquakes. . Image: NASA. This fault has ruptured four times in the past 900 years, each time producing an earthquake of about magnitude 8. Alpine orogeny, mountain-building event that affected a broad segment of southern Europe and the Mediterranean region during the Paleogene and Neogene periods (65.5 million to 2.6 million years ago).The Alpine orogeny produced intense metamorphism of preexisting rocks, crumpling of rock strata, and uplift accompanied by both normal and thrust faulting. Whataroa Tourism; Whataroa Accommodation; Whataroa Bed and Breakfast; Whataroa Holiday Rentals; Whataroa Holiday Packages; Whataroa Flights; Whataroa Restaurants 1. Recent research (published in 2012) by GNS Science has extended our knowledge of the Alpine fault earthquake record back through the past 8000 years. There were 4 of us on this tour and all enjoyed learning more about the geology of such an impressive landscape. The lack of a historical record for the Alpine Fault means that we must instead examine the geological record left by past ruptures. This year has continued our recent run of declared states of emergency around the country with what will be the largest All of Government response seen in New Zealand probably since the last world … In Newsletter, Response Planning. A graphic shows an indicative line of the Alpine Fault in relation to Wanaka and Queenstown. "When we think of earthquakes, our mind goes straight to shaking, straight to the panic we feel when the ground moves," Orchiston said. Christchurch 8141, Recent research by GNS Science has extended our knowledge of the Alpine fault earthquake record back through the past 8,000 years. At the other end of the straight line the Alpine Fault passes through the Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve. Things to do near Alpine Fault Tours. The Alpine Fault, which runs about 600km up the western side of the South Island between Milford Sound and Marlborough, poses one of the biggest natural threats to New Zealand - especially the West Coast, Canterbury and Otago. ... Impacts of an Alpine Fault Quake . The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami and the 2011 liquefaction of buildings in Christchurch were two past examples of secondary hazards, she said. David B wrote a review Feb 2020. The Alpine Fault runs for about 600km up the spine of the South Island, and is one of the world’s major geological features. The Alpine Fault is believed to align with the Macquarie Fault Zone in the Puysegur Trench off the southwestern corner of the South Island. Horizontal movement of the Alpine Fault is about 30m per 1,000 years — very fast by global standards. Glacier Country Scenic Flights; White Heron Sanctuary Tours; Petr Hlavacek Gallery; Experience Fox Glacier; Lake Mapourika; Church of Our Lady of the Alps; Church of St. James; Hukawai Lodge; Hukawai Art Gallery; Tours in Whataroa. Even the trees that have survived an earthquake will bear the scars of the shaking, in the form of periods of poor growth recorded in their rings. The Alpine Fault is believed to align with the Macquarie Fault Zone in the Puysegur Trench off the southwestern corner of the South Island. This NASA satellite image of the South Island shows the Alpine Fault as a line along the western edge of the Southern Alps. The length of the rupture will be … Photo credit: Project AF8 Imagine what a magnitude-8 earthquake would do. The Hope Fault, which caused a magnitude 7 to 7.3 quake in North Canterbury in 1888, crosses the South Island from the Alpine Fault at the Taramakau River to the coastline north of Kaikoura. GNS Science earthquake geologist Russ van Dissen, who also presented at the conference, talked about the tsunami risk after an Alpine Fault quake. The Alpine Fault runs 400km up the South Island, along the western edge of the Southern Alps. The study aims to inform locals and tourists of the significant risk to the area should the Alpine faultline go off. Otago University research fellow Caroline Orchiston detailed the group's work at a public meeting in Blenheim on Wednesday. Less certain is where the megaquake will hit, but the most likely is a south-to-north quake centred at Milford Sound, with intensity-7, 6 and 5 quakes rippling up the South Island. This fault has ruptured four times in the past 900 years, each time producing an earthquake of about magnitude 8. Awesome experience. "The intensity of course depends on the type of ground you're standing on and how far away you are from the Alpine Fault. Earthquake epicentres indicate that the arc defines the position of the fault just off Fiordland's outer coast and then to near the north end of Puysegur Trench at 46.9° S, 165.25° E. Along the fault vertically to a depth of 10 km the Fiordland rocks are 0.6 Mg/m 3 denser than those to the northwest. The goal of Project AF8 was to create a safer and stronger South Island, through better preparation, as the Alpine Fault had the potential to impact the whole island, and beyond, Orchiston said. Alpine Fault movement. Alteration Along the Alpine Fault Helps Build Seismic Strain . Seismic imaging (Davey et al., 1995) indicates that the central segment of the Alpine Fault dips southeastward at angles of 40-50° to a depth in excess of 25 km (Fig. The Alpine Fault travels 800 kilometres from Milford Sound to the Marlborough Sounds. [Chapter Break] After their ground­breaking paper on the Alpine Fault, Willett was posted to Invercargill and Wellman to another war­time project at d’Urville Island. Since September, an international team of scientists has b een based on the West Coast drilling into the Alpine Fault - the on-land boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. The Alpine Fault is a geological fault, known as a right-lateral strike-slip fault, that runs almost the entire length of New Zealand's South Island. * Alpine Fault moves more than any other fault in the world * Alpine Fault spreads across South Island, researchers say * When, not if: Alpine fault could cause 8 … Scroll down to discover how! The Alpine Fault was inferred to continue south-west from Lake McKerrow along the northern Fiord-land Coast (see also Grindley, 1958). “Hands on Alpine Fault learnings plus a bush short walk in Whataroa ... Read reviews in English Go back. This demonstration allows you to go on a virtual field trip along the Alpine Fault and see some of the key outcrops. The Alpine Fault runs for about 600km along the west of the Southern Alps. The Ministry of Civil Defence approved a grant of $680,000 over three years for Project AF8, with work starting in 2016. The Otago University study said a 200m wide 'fault avoidance zone' should be created to prevent further development in the area. "Marlborough has, tsunami-wise, more to be concerned about from the Hikurangi Trench off the east coast of the North Island, which poses quite a threat.". Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. The seismicity rate of the Alpine fault is low but comparable to locked sections of the San Andreas fault, with large earthquakes expected. 2017 is the 300th anniversary of the last major rupture on the 850-km long Alpine Fault. Image: LEARNZ. Movement along this fault has uplifted the Southern Alps and caused large earthquakes. The Bank of New Zealand has received a warning from the Commerce Commission over its likely failure to meet responsible lending requirements … Caroline Orchiston says the Alpine Fault is a "spectacular" fault. A south-to-north earthquake is most likely along the South Island's Alpine Fault. The Alpine Fault quickly became accepted as a notable feature of the geology of New Zealand, and by 1948 was included on standard geological maps. You will visit Franz Josef which sits above the Alpine Fault on the Geohazards virtual field trip. Updating list... 20 - 25 of 26 reviews. London, United Kingdom. Can't find Fault. 01donala. Selected filters. In the last 12 million years the Southern Alps have been uplifted by an amazing 20 kilometres, but erosion keeps their height below 4000m. These include the Clarence, Awatere and Hope Faults, all of which take some of the seismic load off the northern part of the Alpine Fault and transfer it through Marlborough. The other options are a north-to-south tear starting in Greymouth and heading southwest, or an epicentre near Fox Glacier, heading up and down the fault. Recent research by GNS Science has extended our knowledge of the Alpine fault earthquake record back through the past 8,000 years. No matter where you were in the South Island, you would feel at least a magnitude-4 or 5 quake, she said. The Alpine Fault is where two great tectonic plates push together. The Alpine Fault marks the boundary of the Pacific and Australian Plates. Co-ordinated Planning and Partnerships Pay Off. A rupture along the full length of the fast-slipping Alpine Fault on New Zealand's South Island poses the largest potential seismic threat to the southern and central parts of the country. "It was scientifically credible, but also it provided probably the most significant test for Civil Defence around the South Island," Orchiston said. "What we're seeing is a very long history of seismic activity on the fault, which is a really unique record," Orchiston said. Forming the western edge of the Southern Alps, it is clearly visible from space. Approximate rupture dates are 1717AD, 1620 AD, 1450 AD, and 1100 AD. The glaciers and rivers have removed the rest of the material and spread it out across the lowland plains or onto the sea floor. One major feature of the South Island of New Zealand is the Southern Alps, a mountain range caused by uplift along the Alpine Fault. Whataroa Tourism; Whataroa Hotels; Bed and Breakfast Whataroa; Whataroa Holiday Rentals; Flights to Whataroa; Whataroa Restaurants; Whataroa Attractions; Whataroa Travel Forum Key outcrops Project manager Steve Hewland talks about the resilience factors of the material and spread it out across lowland... 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