Feb 9 2010 - January roundup
Last month's progress and news within the GeoNet project.
Gunn Ridge GPS station in south Westland.
Operations
- A new National Seismic Network station Te Kaha (HAZ) was made operational. This site is unique because it is the first GeoNet station using satellite telemetry running on solar power.
- Two continuous GPS sites were installed in the Southern Alps on Mount Price (MTPR) and Gunn Ridge (GUNR), near Franz Josef.
Earthquakes
- The most significant earthquake of the month occurred on January 19, magnitude 5.7, 80 km north of White Island, 230 km deep.
- The preliminary locations of December's earthquakes are shown below.
Volcano Surveillance
Thursday January 28 - Gas flight over White Island
Flying conditions were good; a few clouds were present. The wind speed was about 2 m/s. The results were as follows:
|
|
28/01/2010 |
18/12/2009 |
|---|---|---|
| SO2 emission (Cospec) | 109 | 199 |
| SO2 emission (Flyspec) | 115 | 213 |
| CO2 emission (Contouring) | 2726 | 2325 |
| H2S emission (Contouring) | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| SO2 emission (Contouring) | 64 | 135 |
SO2 flux decreased but there is an increase in the CO2 flux since the last survey.
Reported Landslides
Friday January 29
- A minor slip affected SH 2, the Rimutaka Hill, briefly blocking the southbound lane on the Featherston side.
Sunday January 31
- Heavy rain in the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay regions caused a number of minor slips on highways in the area. Most were instances of single lane blockages for a short period, but the Napier-Taupo road was blocked by numerous slips.
Felt earthquakes of December 2009.
Shallow earthquakes of December 2009.
Deep earthquakes of December 2009.
