Scientists have modelled impacts of ancient submarine landslides recently discovered off the North Island’s West Coast. While only about seven per cent of tsunami events worldwide are triggered by underwater landslides, these sub-surface slips remain an important hazard for coastal communities. This graphic illustrates how underwater landslides can trigger tsunamis. “We know that they are the biggest underwater landslides in New Zealand and [have] been happening around once every million years,” she said. This map shows the locations of six ancient and large underwater landslide events in the Tasman Sea recently discovered by scientists.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 24, 2023 06:44 UTC