Its odd to think that coastal hazards can increase with time, when looking at things in geological timelines, I just assumed that the threats posed by coastal hazards present today are the same that could have occurred thousands of years ago, as well as thousands of years into the future. This is simply not the case, especially for a country like New Zealand that has such a large ratio of coastal area to non coastal area. According to New Zealand's Ministry for the Environment
climate change could have an affect on erosion and inundation, also interesting to learn was current and future development of coastal areas increase the probability of damage. New Zealand is stepping up its building regulations to account for climate changes affect on coastal hazards in the future. They acknowledge sea level rise, but due to the lack of concrete predictions aren't really focusing on preparing against it. Rather they are working to set a standard by which they can reasonably assume the rate at which the sea level will rise. They are acknowledging the affect on drivers, and plan to allow only future development of coastal areas that will not add to the level of risk to current coastal development. New Zealand's ministry for the environment has publish information online for the public to access and educate themselves on hazards and how to respond to them. I feel that they are taking a very progressive and responsible approach to managing their coastal hazards.


http://mfe.govt.nz/node/10759

New Zealands Mass wasting hazards

New Zealand has had a few notable landslides.  In 1979 a portion of the suburb of abbotsford was part of a landslide. When it was all said and done 69 people were left without homes. This layered rock landslide gave out some warning signs when a decade prior to the event residents started noticing cracks in concrete in the area. The biggest landslide documented was Green Lake, which is estimated to have occurred over 13,000 years ago. Approximately 27 cubic kilometers of material covered an area of over 45 square kilometers. Depressions left as a result of this event filled with water, to form what is no green lake.

Week #5 Volcanic activity of New Zeland

New Zealand has its fair share of volcanic activity. The majority of which are located on the North Island, or subsea NE of the North Island. New Zealand is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Tectonic movement allows for the creation of new volcanoes. One of the most active volcanoes Whakaari, located on White Island, is almost constantly venting steaming. In fact ash is discharge every few years. New Zealand not only has active volcanoes, but dormant and extinct as well. Dormant Volcanoes don't really show and current or recent activity but have the possibility of erupting in the future. New Zealand has Cone volcanoes, Calderas, and volcanic fields. The Earthquake commission publishes a great deal of information about preparedness and what to do in the event of.
GNS science has seismic sensors and cameras in strategic places to detect the seismic activity that typical indicated an eruption.
New Zealand use Volcanic Alert Levels, ranging from 0-5. The alert levels aid in determining how the public should respond.  Geonet.org.nz provides information on all types of hazards.

http://info.geonet.org.nz/display/volc/Volcanic+Alert+Levels

http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes

http://www.geonet.org.nz/volcano

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/newzealand.html

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/volcanoes

http://www.eqc.govt.nz/what-we-do/eqc-education

http://www.gns.cri.nz/

Tsunami Hazards and response of New Zeland

The recent earth quake in Chile is expected to produce three foot waves for New Zeland. One school in New Zeland was evacuated. New Zeland relies on the media to relay information to the public. They participate in a national earthquake drill, drop cover and hold. They have information posted online for what to do while at work, school, and at home. They have Tsunami sensors on outlying islands. They have the ability to notify all local civil defense authorities, emergency services, other agencies and media. They also provide updates via the web. New Zealand being an island has a big risk factor for Tsunami damage. They have a large number of coastal communities at risk for Tsunami impact. Having many coastal farms, they could experience a heavy blow to their small and large agricultural economy should a Tsunami hit. There is also quite a few communities living off the grid in the coastal areas that could see their alternative lifestyle devastated.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/11870597/Chile-earthquake-tsunami-warning-triggered-by-8.3-quake.html

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/resources/active-emergencies/chile-earthquake-tsunami-warning-marine-and-beach-threat/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/72147349/tsunami-warning-for-coastal-parts-of-new-zealand-after-big-chile-quake

http://civildefence.govt.nz/cdem-sector/cdem-research-/mcdem-research-projects-and-resources/review-of-tsunami-hazard-in-new-zealand/

http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/

Week #3

In New Zeland there have been 11 earthquakes over the last 100 yrs with a magnitude 7.5 or greater. The leading collector of seismic data in New Zeland GNS, records over 15,000 earthquakes every year. Out of those 15,000, aprox 125 anually are large enough to be felt. Research and data trends provide projections for several earthquakes at a 6.0 magnitude or higher every year. New Zeland is also expected to experience a 7.0 magnitude earthquake every 7-10 years, as well as a magnitude 8 every 10 years.
New Zeland has had its fair share of large earthquakes, the largest how ever is of serious note. In 1855 the Wairarapa Earthquake registered at a magnitude of 8.2 although this is a serious magnitude what is of note is the vertical shift of aproximately 5,000km2. Even mo

re impressive is the maximum horizontal movement at the fault was aprox 18m, this is the most significant displacement across a vertical fault recorded.

Like most modern countries New Zelands seismic activity is measured by seismographs stragetically located to provide comprehensive data that can be used to decrease the danger to property and lives. New Zeland has recently made changes to the standards for building codes in regards to their ability to sustain structural integrity in the face of seismic activity. Efforts to educate children on the proper reactions to an earthquake have increased in frequency, and there is even a TV show titled " Are You Ready?", which discusses buildings, insurance, and emergency plans. The government has posted information regarding disaster preparedness online for free.  

URL: http://www.eqc.govt.nz/be-prepared
URL: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0223/New-Zealand-earthquake-preparedness-Authorities-battled-complacency
URL: http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Earthquakes/New-Zealand-Earthquakes/Where-were-NZs-largest-earthquakes
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/earthquakes/page-3
URL : http://www.getthru.govt.nz/

My country New Zeland is located on the plate boundary between the Autralian plate, and the Pacific plate. It is a transformant fault.



http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/eoc/teachers/t_tectonics/p_map_plate_layers_bath.html

http://mpconline.mpc.edu/pluginfile.php/372985/mod_resource/content/1/Summary%20PlatesBoundaries.pdf