[Geysers] New Zealand

[Ron Keam]

Thank you for your concern about New Zealand friends.  The recent 
deadly earthquake had magnitude 6.3, considerably less energetic than 
the one of September last which had magnitude 7.1.  The problem is 
that the epicentre this time was much shallower and very close to 
Christchurch, indeed lying directly beneath Lyttelton a few 
kilometres to the south-south east.  While Christchurch has been very 
badly damaged the effects would have been felt strongly for perhaps 
only a few tens of kilometres
from the epicentre, and certainly would have had no percerptible 
effects in the central volcanic region several hundreds of kilometres 
to the north.

Thanks again for your enquiry;
Ron Keam

>Hoping this doesn't sound inappropriately callous, but are our friends 
>like Ron Keam down under doing OK? And (this was the really callous
>question), has this second big quake nuked the thermal features? Or
>might we see Waimangu sort out its plumbing system and erupt again? 
>Hearing from lots of people (fortunately, most are OK) but was hoping 
>the lack of info on the NZ thermal features doesn't mean our geyser 
>friends (carbon and silicon-based) have been harmed.
>Karen Webb
>_______________________________________________
>Geysers mailing list
>Geysers at lists.wallawalla.edu
>

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Ron Keam
The Physics Department
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92-019
Auckland
New Zealand
Phone +64 9 373-7599 extension 87931
FAX +64 9 373-7445
EMail r.keam at auckland.ac.nz
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