The Wet West Coast The western slopes of the Southern Alps are among the rainiest places on Earth. Raingauges in the Cropp River area of Westland have measured up to 75.8 centimetres of rain in one day, 2.8 metres of rain in one month, and 14.4 metres of rain in one year. 12:23 PM
20.5.05
Floods are the most frequently occurring and costly natural disasters in New Zealand. Between 1976 and 2003, insurance industry payments for flood damage averaged $17 million per year (adjusted to year 2000 dollars). 1:52 PM
13.5.05
How fast can lava move? Molten rock can flow at different speeds, depending on the type of rock and how hot it is, and on the slope of the ground. Basalt lava, which erupts from the volcanoes of Hawaii, is relatively fluid, and on steep slopes can flow like a fiery river. On flat ground it can advance a kilometre in a few hours. The thicker and more viscous andesite lava is often full of blocks of rock and advances much more slowly. On flat ground it may take months to cover a kilometre. 11:59 AM
6.5.05
If a tsunami warning is issued, don’t go down to the sea to watch the tsunami arrive. Modern tsunami warnings can predict the time they will arrive fairly accurately, but no one can predict the size of the wave. Tsunami waves travel much faster than a person can run! 11:49 AM
