Mag 6.1 Earthquake, Waitara, NZ - very deep 227.3 km

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In summary: There is a lot of speculation on why the 6.3 in Drake Passage was so intense. Some think it may have been due to the alignment of the Australia and Pacific plates, while others believe it may have been due to the length of the quake.
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Astronuc
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  • #3
Astronuc said:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000hiup/executive
M 6.1 - 64km ESE of Waitara, New Zealand

2018-10-30 02:13:39 (UTC)
39.054°S 174.977°E
227.3 km depth - every deep

Yesterday, a Mag 6.3 in Drake Passage, south of Patagonia.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000hied/executive
2018-10-29 06:54:21 (UTC)
57.405°S 66.409°W
10.0 km depth - shallow!

@davenn, did you register these?
Yes I did record them :) and another 6.1 in El Salvador prior to the 6.3 in the Drake Passage

The New Zealand event was a M6.2 and 207km deep

Map of New Zealand.
Moderate earthquake (4 hours ago)

  • Tue Oct 30 2018 3:13 PM
  • Magnitude: 6.2
  • Depth: 207 km
  • 25 km south-west of Taumarunui

upload_2018-10-30_18-12-23.png
Dave
 

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The news people gave a good explanation as to why those close to the epicenter didn't really notice much, unlike those in Wellington and further south. But I cannot recall it now, ha. I think its the type of earth, and the alignment of the Australia and Pacific plates.
 
  • #5
Astronuc said:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000hiup/executive
M 6.1 - 64km ESE of Waitara, New Zealand

2018-10-30 02:13:39 (UTC)
39.054°S 174.977°E
227.3 km depth - every deep

Yesterday, a Mag 6.3 in Drake Passage, south of Patagonia.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000hied/executive
2018-10-29 06:54:21 (UTC)
57.405°S 66.409°W
10.0 km depth - shallow!

@davenn, did you register these?

A friend of mine who lived a city away from the epicenter was still devastated upon hearing this.
 
  • #6
Stella Briggs said:
A friend of mine who lived a city away from the epicenter was still devastated upon hearing this.
why ?
 

What caused the Mag 6.1 earthquake in Waitara, NZ?

The Mag 6.1 earthquake in Waitara, NZ was caused by movement along a fault line in the Earth's crust. This movement released built-up energy, resulting in shaking and seismic activity.

How deep was the earthquake in Waitara, NZ?

The earthquake in Waitara, NZ had a depth of 227.3 km, which is considered very deep for an earthquake. Generally, the deeper an earthquake occurs, the less damage it causes at the Earth's surface.

What is the magnitude scale used to measure earthquakes?

The magnitude scale used to measure earthquakes is the Richter scale. This scale measures the amount of energy released by an earthquake and ranges from 1 to 10, with each whole number increase representing a tenfold increase in energy.

What is the significance of a Mag 6.1 earthquake?

A Mag 6.1 earthquake is considered a strong earthquake and has the potential to cause moderate to significant damage. The effects of the earthquake can also be felt over a larger area compared to smaller magnitude earthquakes.

Are aftershocks expected after a Mag 6.1 earthquake?

Yes, aftershocks are expected after a Mag 6.1 earthquake. These are smaller earthquakes that occur in the same area as the main earthquake and can continue for days, weeks, or even months after the initial earthquake.

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