Mystery explosions solved - does long dead volcano become alive again??

As you know - we had a rather large earthquake in Christchurch and that February  shake did do some decent damage to the area.  As you probably also know - Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's third-most populous urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast,   just north of Banks Peninsula (ok so that part is the important part here).  wohooo
Banks Peninsula forms the most prominent volcanic feature of the South Island. Geologically speaking, the peninsula comprises the eroded remnants of two large composite shield volcanoes (Lyttelton formed first, then Akaroa), and the smaller Mt Herbert Volcanic Group. These formed due to intraplate volcanism between approximately eleven and eight million years ago (Miocene) on a continental crust. The peninsula formed initially as offshore islands, with the volcanoes reaching to about 1,500 m above sea level. Two dominant craters formed Lyttelton and Akaroa Harbours. The portion of crater rim lying between Lyttelton Harbour and Christchurch city forms the Port Hills.  Actually Banks Peninsula comprises 15 volcanic vents/cones - not 3. These have not been active for 6 million years and the subduction zone and 'hot spot' that made their creation possible has long since moved away - much like the Hawaiian chain islands of extinct volcanoes.  So they say . . . . .

So naturally when we had the 6.2 earthquake one of the most often questions asked was: is the volcano coming alive again?!  Common consensus  until that point in time was - no chance - it is extinct  and has been so for some long time. 

Further our GNS scientists here in NZ have tested the hot springs around Banks Peninsula post-quakes.  The chemical composition of that water is not that which would indicate volcanic activity/source.  The massive amount of liquefaction and earthquakes that Christchurch has experienced has caused changes in our water table and natural spring levels but again nothing indicating volcanic activity or presence of magma. 

See this link and read the story there:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/5183064/Lyttelton-eruption-not-possible

However in the last few months there have been "mystery explosions" and deep rolling boom sounds recorded in the eastern part of town.  The hot springs tested - have also  been noted to be - well - hotter.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/67417742/Mystery-big-explosion-in-Christchurch

Further - I lost count how many aftershocks we have experienced since Feb 2011 but it is fair to say it is in excess of 3000.


So guess what was observed today - urm - yesterday??  One gigantic enormous steam-cloud being spewed forth from the crater rim, rising vertically  several hundred meters before it flattened  out.  Steam - which means water had to be heated by magma and find its way up and out.   It was a impressive sight for sure!
I tried to ring the local Geonet people who intially did take my call - but then laughed this off - and hung up.  Subsequent phone calls were ignored.  I think they may have put me on a barred list.  Sighs
Luckily for me - I had my camera with the long lens with me at the time, so was able to take urm - 'an evidence - photo'.  

Leaving work later in the afternoon and taking another look - by then the steam had dissipated - so I guess the volcano run out of - urm - steam?? Or was it puff??
Either way -  Banks Peninsula may be declared as dead volcanoes, now I am not so sure anymore . . . . .

Have fun


 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast in Kiwiland - post script

hmmm as promised below are some pictures of the original haunts of the (then) young intrepid traveller!! (Thanks Sara for emailing them!!)


Fairhaven - as it is still known.  Myself - I had the task of washing all the windows from the inside . .  and outside at one stage.  Actually that particular building is going soon to be demolished and will make way for a new development in aged care.







Wesley complex near Hagley Park- the old house is under a heritage protection order and the developer could do only a teeny-weeny amount of work in converting the house back into flats! The big structure attached and behind is new and had to be designed so as to "blend in".  Hmmmmmm  Actually this one seems to have survived the earthquakes very well.



Well let's see - there used to be no second story on when we lived there.  Lounge at the far left corner and back of the building and the front corner was his room and the front right corner our bedroom and the lounge is on the other side - along with the essentials of toilet / shower / washroom.  It was also un-insulated - so got cold in winter = nothing that a good coal fire could not cure! Ahhh those where the days in Christchurch when you could still have an open fire with good ol' westcoast coal to heat your house! actually - wonder where they put the staircase in this configuration.  From memory it was a tiny space to start with.


Well - That's all Folks (bugs Bunny)
Have fun


 

Austrian Bed and Breakfast in Kiwiland

A long time ago in the dark-ages, a intrepid traveller landed on our shores and was in need of some TLC and well - other things.  He stayed with us in Christchurch for a year - 6 month of which we had the pleasure of housing him eg. he flatted with us.  Just prior to him coming here his Nephew Moritz was born - so we saw everything through his eyes.  Said nephew is a fine young man now and is also touring the world - along with is cousin - who both managed to be in the same time and space in New Zealand, and thanks to the "encouragement" of their Uncle they dropped by, for a couple of days.  First day was a "Moritz" day - activities of his choosing.
I had to be at work in the morning - but Mamabear had the day of and so first up they went to the Antarctic Center where they enjoyed the penguins and chill room and all other stuff relating to the Ice.  Christchurch is the staging post for many nations to fly down to the Antartic and do whatever study or research they do there.  The Center acts as  tourist attraction along with an educational aspect.  Seems Sara got boosebumps once she experienced the windchill factor room (minus 20 degrees). From there they picked me up from work and we headed into town for a light lunch.  The first place of choice was closed due to earthquake risk - so trundeled along or through Hagley Park to the Antigua boatsheds - where a really good and late lunch had been enjoyed in the sunshine.  From there it was back to the car via the rosegarden section of our Botanical Gardens and we did a 'let's see Wilfrieds old haunts tour' !! So we stopped at old Wesley - which has since been sold to a developer and changed shape a little bit (the original houses are still there though) to take a photo and sold a story or two.  From there to the place we used to live in Suva street.  Must have looked weird standing outside on the road and taking a picture.  Place had at one time burned on the inside but the mainstructure was still there - since then the owner added more room's on top of the house!! After this we headed to Brighton Beach - which was very windy with a chilly easterly - almost southerly coming of the sea.  Lots of white caps. The really weird thing was that the tide was up - and we have NEVER seen so little space between the dunes and the sea. Also there was a lot of debris lying round from the stuff that got washed out to sea from the swollen rivers - which came about the norwestcoast rains falling in the Alps. There was a news story of a "Wall of Water' coming down the Waimakiriri river - but nothing was ever shown on any news later in the day.  Suffice to say - when it rains in the Alps the river-water levels can raise by 1-3 meters in the space of half an hour. Anyhow I was talking to the life guard on return walk and mentioned the tide and his take was that it now regularly comes up right up to the dunes, and his view was, that it had something to do with the recent earthquakes.  Seemed silly - until we remembered that the land around Brighton and eastern suburbs have reportedly dropped 50cm - 1 meter, which would explain the higher then normal tide leves.  Hmmmmmm
From there we went around the ring route and up the Port Hills to the House of Takehe. Also closed due to earthquake risk. Seems during driving round town we mentioned the Shakes quite a bit.  Still we got a good view of the town and the outlaying 'Burbs. Back down the hill and a stopover at Fairhaven (another obligatory photo and story told) and it was time for home and a chinwag.  After some thoughts and discussion it was decided to go to Kaikoura tomorrow. Inbetween that we had a Pavlova for Dessert - and we hear that a certain more maturer Austrian is a expert Pav-maker.  We are looking forward to tasting one of his creations next time he visits us!! (no pressure)









The Tide was still coming in and had another 3-4 meters to go.











So if we row a boat in THAT direction - we would - urm eventually hit Chile?? Yup!!