Ship-to-shore event gives glimpse of East Coast sea expedition

Scientists aboard the JOIDES Resolution will be working off the East Coast for six weeks to learn more about the risks the Hikurangi Subduction zone loses. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay communities will soon get a glimpse inside an expedition working off the East Coast to learn more about New Zealand's largest fault - the Hikurangi subduction zone.

Jointly led by NIWA and the University of Auckland, this expedition is the first of two aboard the scientific drilling research vessel JOIDES Resolution, operated by the US National Science Foundation.

Scientists will spend six weeks, including Christmas and New Year, at sea between 30 and 100km off the coast of Gisborne, studying two main features of the area - slow-slip earthquakes and submarine landslides.

They will collect drilling data, and record physical information about the rock types thought to host the subduction fault.

Together this information will reveal the causes of these phenomena and improve understanding of the risk the plate boundary poses to communities along the East Coast and across the country.

Those back on shore will have a chance to explore the ship through a free live video broadcast from the research vessel, an initiative spearheaded by East Coast LAB (Life at the Boundary).

This will provide a 40 minute virtual tour of the ship, and give viewers the chance to meet some of the NZ scientists and crew on board.

Kate Boersen of East Coast LAB said they wanted to help ensure communities were aware of the research going on, and also understand their earthquake and tsunami risk.

"We wanted to make it easy and exciting for people to see the science work that is underway. Lucky for us the JOIDES Resolution have educators onboard to provide ship to shore live video broadcasts".

Ship–to-Shore sessions will be held in Napier and Gisborne. Scientists involved in the land-based component of this work will be at the Gisborne event to answer any questions.

Expedition co-leader and NIWA marine geologist Dr Philip Barnes said while slow slip events have been recorded around the world, those in the northern part of the Hikurangi subduction zone were special.

They happen in relatively shallow depths beneath the seafloor where data can be collected to help reveal how they work.

"Since their discovery scientists have come to understand that there is a whole continuum of seismological processes between constant creep on a fault and big earthquakes, and slow slips are one of those."

East Coast LAB is a project which makes it easy and exciting to learn more about natural hazards and how they affect those living on the coast near the Hikurangi plate boundary.

Ship–to-Shore
- The first session will be held in Napier on Tuesday December 5 at 7pm, at the LAB, National Aquarium of New Zealand, 546 Marine Parade.

- The Gisborne session will be held Thursday December 14 at 6pm, Waikanae Surf Life Saving Club, 285 Grey St.

- Attendees were encouraged to check East Coast LAB's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/EastCoastLAB/) on the day to confirm the start time.

- Schools and other groups are able to sign up to have ship tour here joidesresolution.org/