CANCELLED: Scientists to share latest Hikurangi subduction zone findings

This event has unfortunately been CANCELLED. 

Hawke’s Bay people will get the chance to learn more about the latest research on New Zealand’s largest and most active fault, the Hikurangi subduction zone at a free public talk.

International scientists Dr Demian Saffer and Dr Becky Bell will present their research into the Hikurangi subuction zone at 7pm on Tuesday, 17 March at the Napier Conference Centre.

Dr Saffer from University of Texas Institute for Geophysics will share what scientists have learnt from recent research ship missions to the Hikurangi subduction zone offshore Gisborne to learn more about large earthquakes and slow slip earthquakes.

Dr Bell from Imperial College London will then talk about the latest results of scientific studies that use sound waves to reveal what the subduction zone looks like underground.

“In the same way as we use ultrasound to see inside the body we have used sound waves to produce images and reveal the properties of rocks offshore Gisborne where two large tsunami earthquakes occurred in 1947 and slow slip events happen. The seismic and drilling data combined begin to give us clues as to why this subduction zone behaves in this way” says Dr Bell.

The scientists will then be available to answer any question you might have about the Hikurangi subduction zone, fault lines, large earthquakes and slow slip earthquakes.

Dr Saffer and Dr Bell are in Napier to meet with other international scientists to plan for future research work as part of the International Ocean Discovery Programme.

Kate Boersen of East Coast LAB says “It is a great opportunity for the Napier and Hastings communities to learn more about the science involved, and how we are coming to understand more and more about the risks the Hikurangi subduction zone poses.”

This event is funded by an MBIE Endeavour funded research project based at GNS Science, with support from Imperial College London, United Kingdom and the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, in the United States of America.

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