Geology & Seismology
New Thinking
Landslips and erosion: just how bad is 2006?
Crown Research Institute scientists from GNS Science and Landcare Research give the expert word on why the earth seems to be moving more this winter.
Fossil vomit and other stories
New Zealand has the best fossil record in the Southern Hemisphere - many curated by GNS Science. A new exhibition will show that fossils, including fossil vomit, have current and future utility as well as telling great stories.
The new rock and roll
Earthquakes are a fact of life for most New Zealanders, with 14,000 or so recorded tremors each year. Monitoring what happens and where is key to improving earthquake readiness and response. With the GeoNet monitoring network, Crown Research Institute GNS Science is seismically aware, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
New Science
New power source right under our feet?
A city the size of Christchurch could be powered by generating geothermal electricity from the heat in our disused oil and gas wells, reckons GNS Science. There are over 300 old wells with the heat to become significant generators. What’s more, many more old wells could be directly tapped for their geothermal riches.
Building kiwi homes to withstand shakes
With almost 400 earthquakes large enough to be felt each year, and thousands more either too small or too deep to be felt, how can New Zealand homes and building be safe enough without incurring earth-shattering costs? New earthquake loading standards in the Building Code call on latest GNS Science knowledge to deliver strength at a realistic budget.
