Here we bring you news of recent research, including work related to the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake, and last year's Samoan tsunami.
Information gathered from the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake may help prepare communities for future natural disasters. NIWA and GNS Science are using data on damage and human displacement caused by the quake to help validate RiskScape, a natural hazard impact and risk-assessment tool.
Human recovery is as important as repairing infrastructure if communities are to get back on their feet following natural disasters. NIWA is part of a team providing a new toolkit for post-tsunami research, to include guidance on how to gather critical information from disaster victims following a tsunami.
Scientists at NIWA are investigating the longer-term costs of natural disasters using the September 2009 Samoan tsunami as a case study. The anticipated costs of natural disasters drive decisions about investment in risk-reduction initiatives, so the more accurately the costs can be estimated, the better those decisions will be.
The recent Canterbury earthquake not only disrupted lives and property, it also altered the movement of water across and under the Canterbury Plains. Groundwater levels spiked, springs started flowing, and the Hororata River changed its course. NIWA scientists are taking this rare opportunity to examine how the earthquake has affected the region's rivers and aquifers.
