The Energy of the Christchurch Earthquake and the Slapdown Effect

GNS Science seismologist Dr Martin Reyners explains why this earthquake was so damaging for its comparatively low magnitude

[@maurasmith-mitsky762]

Wonderful video. I had never heard of the slap down effect.

[@Kiwigeo8339]

In this article there's a photo that was taken of the CBD during the quake which shows rising dust plumes due to the "slapdown effect"...also called a "trampoline effect". nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/february-2011-christchurch-earthquake

[@FortitudoDei]

Great explanation - one of the best I've heard.

[@roastedpeas]

cheers ,is Christchurch now going to be more "earthquake active" or will it go back to a shake now and then ?

[@richardpope3063]

@5.24 the script doesn't correspond to what GNS speaker said. Script 'the ground was...' the GNS speaker said the ground wasn't...'

[@notwowe]

Convection currents within the earth's mantle. If you've learnt physics, The hotter magma near the core rises up and then cools down, which moves to the side before sinking. Whichever direction the magma goes before cooling will affect the direction of the plate's direction.

[@Kiwigeo8339]

Mantle convection currents are only one of three drivers of plate tectonic movement. The other two are plate push at spreading ridge systems and plate pull down at subduction zones.