Tsunami science

Seafloor deformation during the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake

Summary

This research analyses the characteristics of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake to determine the cause of tsunami. The findings show that two regions of seafloor motion produced the tsunami, including a Mw ~7.6 rupture on the Hikurangi subduction zone interface under Kaikōura and comparable size offshore crustal faulting in the Pacific Plate between Kaikoura and Cook Strait.

Emergency management relevance

This research contributes to our understanding of how tsunamis behave.

Additional information

Authors: Yefei Bai, Thorne Lay, Kwok Fai Cheung, Lingling Ye

Date: 2017

Funders: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Format: Published - Geophysical Research Letters

Reference: Bai, Y., Lay, T., Cheung, K. F., & Ye, L. (2017). Two regions of seafloor deformation generated the tsunami for the 13 November 2016, Kaikōura, New Zealand earthquake. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(13), 6597-6606. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL073717