1843 Wanganui earthquake
.png)  Location within New Zealand | |
| UTC time |
|
|---|---|
| Local date |
|
| Magnitude |
|
| Epicentre | near Whanganui, North Island 40°00′S 176°03′E / 40.000°S 176.050°E |
| Areas affected | New Zealand |
| Max. intensity | MMI X (Extreme) |
| Casualties | 2 deaths |
The 1843 Whanganui earthquake occurred on 8 July at 16:45 local time with an estimated magnitude of 7.5 on the Mw scale.[1][2] It had a maximum perceived intensity of IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale, possibly reaching X (Extreme). The epicentre was estimated to be within a zone extending 50 km northeast from Whanganui towards Taihape, with GNS Science placing it 35 km east of Taihape[3] near the border of Hawke's Bay. This was the first recorded[4] earthquake in New Zealand with a magnitude over 7 and the first with recorded deaths.[5]
Tectonic setting
[edit]New Zealand is located along the boundary between the Australian and Pacific plates. The South Island experiences most of the plate displacement along the Alpine Fault, a dextral strike-slip fault with a major reverse component. In the North Island, displacement occurs mainly along the Kermadec subduction zone and the North Island Fault System (NIFS).[6] The Marlborough fault system in the northern end of the South Island transfers displacement between transform and convergent plate boundaries.[7] The 1843 earthquake epicenter is not linked to any known fault.
Earthquake characteristics
[edit]The earthquake, which lasted for three minutes near Mokoia, was felt across much of North Island. It was estimated to have a magnitude of 7.5 based on the extent of the area experiencing severe shaking. Ten aftershocks were reported on the same day, with additional shocks occurring until January 1845.[1]
Damage
[edit]The Whanganui area experienced severe damage reaching IX–X on the Mercalli intensity scale.[1] Numerous houses were damaged, and a brick church in Putiki was destroyed.[5] Lateral spreading occurred along the terrace margin to the Whanganui River, and a portion of Shakespeare Cliff collapsed into the river. Two fatalities resulted from landslides triggered by the earthquake, as a house was swept away.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Eiby, George (1968). "A descriptive catalogue of New Zealand earthquakes". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 11 (1): 30–32. Bibcode:1968NZJGG..11...16E. doi:10.1080/00288306.1968.10423671.
- ↑ "Significant earthquake". National Geophysical Data Center. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "GeoNet – Quakes". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ↑ "Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Southland. Page on earthquake hazards". Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- 1 2 McSaveney, Eileen. "Landslide related fatalities" (PDF). Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ Mouslopoulou, Vasiliki; Nicol, Andy; Little, Timothy & Walsh, John (2007). "Terminations of large strike-slip faults: an alternative model from New Zealand". In Cunningham, W. D. & Mann, P. (eds.). Tectonics of Strike-Slip Restraining and Releasing Bends. Special Publication. Vol. 290. London: Geological Society. pp. 387–415. doi:10.1144/SP290.15.
- ↑ Van Dissen, Russ; Yeats, Robert (1991). "Hope fault, Jordan thrust, and uplift of the Seaward Kaikoura Range, New Zealand". Geology. 19 (4): 393–396. Bibcode:1991Geo....19..393V. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0393:HFJTAU>2.3.CO;2.
- ↑ A tremulous motion, Barry Hawkins
| Pre-colonisation | |
|---|---|
| 19th century | |
| 20th century | |
| 21st century | |
| Related articles | |
| |
