Science / Natural Disasters

GNS picking up 'ghost' earthquakes

08:23 am on 18 September 2023

Listen

GNS Science says its seismic equipment is sometimes picking up false earthquakes, known as ghost quakes.

Ghost quakes can occur when a distant earthquake is picked up and identified as several small closer earthquakes.

Waves from a recent Kermadec earthquake were initially identified as two smaller quakes in New Zealand on Geonet's website, and later deleted.

GNS Seismologist Elizabeth Abbot spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.