Big Quake Spell Unfolds. 14 March 2020 - 21 March 2020
Mag 4+ quakes have unleashed on New Zealand last few days. Widespread quake action, including volcanic heating at White Island and Ruapehu is keeping the forecasters busy. The 14 March North of East Cape 5.9 was pointed out as a probable "ghost quake" by this Service because only Geonet recorded the quake and no other Observatory. A review shows more reliable EMSC and USGS did record the quake as a Mag 5.6 so the quake is real after all (shown as the white dot on the map). EMSC recorded two other quakes, the Hikurangi 4.5 and Porangahau 4.3. These quakes followed the Kermadecs 6.3 minutes earlier in a classic quakestorm. The Kermadecs 6.3 which set off the sequence is at the top of the map. March is aurora and earthquake season when the solar magnetic connection to Earth increases and earthquakes increase in response. Map courtesy United States Geological Survey USGS Aotearoa Earthquake and Volcano Forecast Service © 2013 - 2024 |
