Tectonics of the Kermadec Trench
Map showing the two tectonic plates
By: Josh Breland
The Kermadec Trench is one of the deepest, natural occurrences in the world. It stretches 700 miles south, from the latitude 26 degrees, towards New Zealand, and ranges from depths of 5km below the water’s surface to 10 km below the water’s surface. The trench is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Australian Plate. The Pacific Plate slowly bends and cracks as it moves under the Australian Plate, cause massive mountains deep below the surface. That tectonic activity causes for one of the most active tectonic regions in the world. Most of the major earthquakes that occur happen on the thrust-fault interface between the Pacific and Australia plates. The earthquakes are caused by the friction of the two massive plates as they move along each other.
About 600 years ago, a Tsunami with a wave height of 32 meters swept over Northern New Zealand. This was the largest recorded tsunami that has ever struck New Zealand. Scientist believe the tsunami was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that happened in the Kermadec Trench.
The Kermadec Trench is one of the deepest, natural occurrences in the world. It stretches 700 miles south, from the latitude 26 degrees, towards New Zealand, and ranges from depths of 5km below the water’s surface to 10 km below the water’s surface. The trench is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Australian Plate. The Pacific Plate slowly bends and cracks as it moves under the Australian Plate, cause massive mountains deep below the surface. That tectonic activity causes for one of the most active tectonic regions in the world. Most of the major earthquakes that occur happen on the thrust-fault interface between the Pacific and Australia plates. The earthquakes are caused by the friction of the two massive plates as they move along each other.
About 600 years ago, a Tsunami with a wave height of 32 meters swept over Northern New Zealand. This was the largest recorded tsunami that has ever struck New Zealand. Scientist believe the tsunami was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that happened in the Kermadec Trench.