Comments on: Earthquake update from Dr Hamish Campbell, GNS

By: Lucinda Blackley

Lucinda Blackley — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:54:32 +0000

Fascinating, thank you Don. Its a reminder that this kind of tragedy can happen anywhere, and that we all have so much in common.

By: Don E. Parker

Don E. Parker — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:09:39 +0000

Some geological info about “liquifaction”. In parts of Alaska, especially in Anchorage, the Cook Inlet area, we have a similar phenomenon, which was the cause of much of the damage in the 1964 earthquake here. The inlet is full of glacial silt, which is thixatropic, that is, it is stable while still or under pressure, but as soon as you shake it, it turns liquid and runs like mud. There are huge lenses of this stuff under Anchorage. Pictures of the Turnagain subdivision damage show this very clearly.

By: Lucinda Blackley

Lucinda Blackley — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:59:43 +0000

hi Kerry, yes, its fascinating science – we have so much to learn about the forces of the planet. We’ll be updating this blog as new knowledge comes to hand.

By: Kerry Jimson

Kerry Jimson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:29:58 +0000

Fascinating article on the forces underlying this catastrophic event. The received wisdom is that it is unlikely that there will be another quake like this in Christchurch in the near future, but as Dr Campbell points out, this is impossible to predict. The science is based on trends so is, in a sense, backward looking. There is also the possibility of undetected faults – just like the one that hit on 4 September was, I believe, unknown until that event.

By: Lucinda Blackley

Lucinda Blackley — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:25:07 +0000

Many thanks for sharing that moving video with us. The other source for donations is the Red Cross. If you are in Wellington you can also drop off physical doinations (clothes, blankets, toilet paper, torches, soap, deodorant, canned food, toothpaste etc are all needed) at the Michael Fowler centre today before 3.30pm.

By: madamgeeky

madamgeeky — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:05:04 +0000

A tribute to the victims of the Christchurch earthquake:
http://earthquakes.videohq.tv/2011/02/new-zealand-tribute-to-earthquake_22.html

Please donate and help via the official lines on that page.