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The powerful earthquake that smashed buildings, cracked roads and twisted rail lines in Christchurch also ripped a new 3.5m-wide fault line in the Earth's surface. Canterbury University geology professor Mark Quigley said "a new fault" had ripped across the globe and pushed surface areas up. He said the quake was caused by the collision of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. "One side of the Earth has lurched to the right - up to 11 feet (3.5m) and in some places been thrust up," Mr Quigley said. New Zealand sits above an area of the Earth's crust where two tectonic plates collide. The country records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year, but only about 150 are powerful enough to be felt above land, about 3 'felt' jolts per week on average. New Zealand's last major earthquake registered 7.8 on the Richter scale and hit the South Island's Fiordland region on July 16, 2009 (just before new moon+closest perigee), moving the southern tip of the country 30cm closer to Australia.
What else can I help you with?
Is earthquake is also called tsunami?
No, an earthquake is a sudden shift in tectonic plates caused by built up pressure. This cause the Ground to shake. A Tsunami is a giant wave. Tsunamis can be caused by an earthquake happening under the ocean
What is the average dollar amount of damages caused by an earthquake?
there would be considerable damage in poorly built structures
Do all earthquakes cause tsunamis?
No sometimes not a month ago the usa got a small earthquake on the east coast and caused no tusanmi
Did an earthquake cause Samoa's tsunami?
No because the New Madrid quakes occurred far inland, so therefore no tsunami was generated by the plate tectonics under a large body of water as is the mechanism for most earthquake-generated tsunamis. However, the New Madrid fault earthquake did cause the Mississippi river to flow backwards.
What is a giant ocean wave caused by an earthquake or a severe storm called?
A Tsunami, or tidal wave, or seismic sea wave may be caused by an earthquake. It is incorrect to refer to giant ocean waves caused by severe storms as tsunamis. Severe storms may cause giant ocean waves referred to as "Rogue Waves" - which are distinct from and NOT the same as Tsunamis.
Are Secondary waves a Cause of a Earthquake?
No they ARE caused by the recession of the first wave which IS caused by an earthquake.
Does an earthquake cause a fault?
No an earthquake is caused because in that certain area where the earthquake was , there was a fault line.
What caused the earthquake that resulted in the tsunami of 2004?
The cause of the earthquake was that the boundaries were sliding past each other and caused an earthquake in which resulted in a tsunami.
What was the cause of the Japanese tsunami in 2011?
An earthquake caused the tsunami!
What is also known as the 'focus' - the place underground where an earthquake originates?
The point underground where an earthquake originates is known as the hypocenter or the focus. This is the specific location within the Earth's crust where the seismic energy is released, leading to the generation of seismic waves that cause the earthquake.
What was the cause of the Indian ocean tsunmai?
An earthquake caused an undersea landslide. it also can form by an under water earthquake
What kind of energy does an earthquake deep underground release?
An earthquake deep underground releases seismic energy in the form of seismic waves. These waves carry energy from the point of the earthquake's origin (the focus) and cause the ground to shake as they propagate through the Earth's crust.
What was the cause of the San Francisco earthquake?
The San Francisco earthquake was caused by a rift in the San Andreas fault.
Did god cause the tsunami in japan?
The earthquake caused the tsunami in Japan. And plate tectonics - which have been going on under the earths surface since the earth formed - caused the earthquake.
What is a tsanmi?
A tsunami is a series of large ocean waves caused by a sudden disturbance, such as an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide. These waves can travel long distances across the ocean and cause devastation when they hit coastlines.
Is earthquake is also called tsunami?
No, an earthquake is a sudden shift in tectonic plates caused by built up pressure. This cause the Ground to shake. A Tsunami is a giant wave. Tsunamis can be caused by an earthquake happening under the ocean
What is the name the underground origin of an earthquake?
The underground origin of an earthquake is called the hypocenter or focus. This is the point within the Earth's crust where the seismic energy is released, leading to the generation of seismic waves that cause the ground shaking we feel at the surface.
