Is the recent activity on Mt. Ruapehu on the North Island of NZ related to
the earthquake near Wellington last week?
John R. Likins
Dear John,
It is difficult to prove that the earthquake near Wellington did not play
a role in triggering the recent increase in activity on Mt. Ruapehu. It
is far more likely that the two events are independent of each other.
Volcanism at Mt. Ruapehu is the result of subduction of the Pacific plate
under the Indian-Australian plate. Wellington is on a transform plate
boundary between those same two plate. Earthquakes are common along
transform faults.
Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota
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