New Report Shows Weakening Of Earth's Crust In New Zealand

Recent surveying of the terrain in New Zealand has scientists convinced that recent powerful earthquakes from 2010 and 2011 have weakened the Earth's surface in areas of the country. Seismic waves detected before and after the earthquakes were analyzed by a network of seismographs across New Zealand and it was determined that a broad region of the area affected by the recent quakes has led to cracking around the fault. This widespread weakening of the crust can be detrimental to New Zealand. The country is located along the Ring of Fire where 90 percent of the world's earthquakes occur. The government needs to look at this information closely as it plans for future hazard mitigation that could occur from stronger earthquakes because of this.

Aerial view of Christchurch New Zealand. This was the site of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck on February 22nd, 2011.

The magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 2011 was the deadliest and most costly in the entire history of New Zealand and just 172 days earlier in 2010 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake also caused millions of dollars in damage, although thankfully nobody was killed. These powerful earthquakes were strong enough to cause abnormal amounts of cracking in the earth along the fault lines in New Zealand. It is possible that another devastating earthquake could occur along the same fault and cause even more damage because of it.

Earthquakes obviously cannot be prevented but mitigation efforts need to be in place now in case another earthquake hits this region. The 'golden hours' after a quake only last so long and emergency relief services need to be well organized in order to act rapidly and efficiently.

(Video of a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in January of this year. Some structural damage was accounted for and thankfully nobody was seriously injured.)

Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/41446-new-zealand-earthquakes-weakened-crust.html