Geologists set for quake conference
Blenheim is set to host a major international earthquake geology conference and public talk on the anniversary of last year’s Kaiko¯ura earthquake.
About 130 scientists are expected in town for the conference which will be held at the Marlborough Convention Centre.
The conference on paleoseismology, active tectonics and archeoseismology (PATA) is set to take place between the November 13 and 16.
GNS earthquake geologist Kate Clark said the dates and location of the conference was no coincidence.
The conference was a commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the last magnitude-8 earthquake on the Alpine Fault, with Blenheim near the Wairau fault, a northern extension of the Alpine Fault.
‘‘It was [planned for the Kaiko¯ura earthquake anniversary] so that we could do some public outreach about earthquake hazards, it also falls in good timing with university semesters,’’ Clark said.
The event open for the public would have a panel of five scientists from New Zealand, Italy and the United States.
The scientists would discuss the Kaiko¯ura earthquake, the Hikurangi subduction zone, the Alpine Fault, recent earthquakes in Italy and earthquake hazards in Southern California.
‘‘Everyone is invited, so we hope to get heaps of members of the public along,’’ Clark said.
Blenheim was an ideal location for a large earthquake conference.
‘‘Having it in Blenheim means we can take people to go and look at some of the fault ruptures,’’ Clark said.
The public talk with five scientists is set to be held on November 14 at 7pm at the Marlborough Convention Centre.
Everyone is invited, so we hope to get heaps of members of the public along. Kate Clark