Monitoring of earthquake behaviour along the Alpine Fault should be improved before the forthcoming quake, according to research by GNS Science. A new paper highlights that the present, sparse monitoring network, despite much needed, ongoing upgrades by GeoNet, is insufficient to closely monitor the fault’s behaviour ahead of the next major earthquake. Improved monitoring infrastructure would allow scientists to identify changes in the fault’s behaviour over time and enable better recording of aftershocks following a major earthquake.

‘Monitoring of small, micro-earthquakes and aftershocks is a very important way that we keep tabs on how our faults are behaving’ say Dr Emily Warren-Smith, a senior seismologist at GNS Science and lead author of the new study. ‘The addition of new micro-earthquake monitoring sites along the Alpine Fault is fantastic news for our ability to keep the fault under surveillance. But it remains not as well instrumented as other regions, despite us knowing it will produce a very large earthquake in the future. We should be learning as much as we can about the fault now, to allow us to better prepare for that next big earthquake.’