Tectonic Processes

Active tectonics of New Zealand - 40 years of advances

This session is focussed on advances in understanding active tectonics in New Zealand over the past 40 years in recognition of the career of Dr Kelvin Berryman. We welcome presentations on new studies that address old problems in Quaternary tectonics of New Zealand; e.g. new techniques to quantify rates and styles of tectonic deformation, new insights into the earthquake cycle from modern high-resolution topographic datasets, statistical analyses, and geochronology tools. We also welcome presentations on topics about South Island Quaternary tectonics, tectonic geomorphology, coastal neotectonics, and the application of paleoseismology to seismic hazard modelling and infrastructure safety.

Session Convenors: Kate Clark (GNS Science), Rob Langridge (GNS Science), Mark Stirling (University of Otago)

 

Subduction to Strike-Slip Transition in Central New Zealand

Plate boundary transitional zones, such as the Hikurangi subduction to strike-slip Alpine Fault transition in central New Zealand, present challenges for seismic and tsunami hazard assessment because of the complexity of active and inherited tectonic structures they host. This session brings together multidisciplinary research to unravel the tectonic setting, active processes and inherited structures in the lower North Island and upper South Island. We welcome contributions from disciplines including seismology, geophysics, active fault studies, geology and marine geology related to understanding the central New Zealand transitional zone. Submissions on the Alpine Fault—Puysegur transitional region and Fiordland are also welcome.

Session Convenors: Emily Warren-Smith (GNS Science), Andy Howell (University of Canterbury/GNS Science)

Volcanism in Te Rui-a-Māui/Zealandia and the South Pacific (in association with LAVA NZ SIG)

Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia and the Southwest Pacific region are home to a variety of volcano types including volcanic complexes, polygenetic composite, compound and stratovolcanoes, small-to-mega calderas, and fields of monogenetic volcanoes. We welcome submissions on the broad topic of volcanism on the Zealandia continent and its surroundings in the Southwest Pacific, from the physical volcanology and geochemical characterisation to the environmental, hazard and geochronological aspects. Our session will be run in association with the GSNZ SIG “LAVA NZ”, and we will be encouraging members of this group to submit to this session.  

 Session Convenors: Jenni Hopkins (Victoria University of Wellington), Karoly Nemeth (Massey University), Adrian Pittari (University of Waikato), Alan Bischoff (University of Canterbury)

Unravelling the Geological Record

Unravelling the seascape: processes that shape the marine environment of Aotearoa/New Zealand

With the majority of Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia lying underwater, marine geology is an essential field of research in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Recent and ongoing seafloor mapping programmes, sub-bottom surveys, ROV dives and seafloor sampling surveys have revealed a wealth of new data, allowing us to delve deeper into the offshore geology and active processes beneath the seafloor. This session seeks contributions from studies across the disciplines of marine geology and biogeosciences, ranging from the depths of the continental slopes to the shallow coasts.

 Session Convenors: Jess Hillman (GNS Science), Sarah Seabrook (NIWA / University of Auckland), Sally Watson (NIWA) 

Sedimentation from Source to Sink: Modern Analogues and Ancient Examples (in association with Sedimentology SIG)

Sedimentation from Source to Sink: Modern Analogues and Ancient Examples brings together observations of modern processes with those of the sedimentary record, at a range of scales, with a view to generating improved interpretations of ancient systems and promoting a much more collaborative approach across the field of sedimentology.

 Session Convenors: Mark Lawrence (GNS Science), Andrew La Croix (Waikato University)

Climate and the Environment

Hydrogeology for life and the environment (in association with Hydrogeology SIG)

Groundwater represents 80% of freshwater in New Zealand. Hydrogeological research and investigations are essential for sustainable, beneficial use of this most important resource. Hydrogeology is a truly multidisciplinary science that draws on many natural and social sciences, including nearly all other geosciences. This session is about recent applied and theoretical groundwater research that is aimed at enhancement of life and the environment in Aotearoa.

Session Convenor: Hisham Zarour (Stantec)

Climate Past and Present (in association with Friends of the Pleistocene SIG)

Global climate change represents a significant hazard facing current and future generations. In this session we encourage submissions from the full spectrum of climate research, past and present, which bear relevance for present and future climate change. This includes (but is not limited to): (i) analyses of present climate trends/impacts; (ii) climate/environmental reconstruction from geological archives (recent to deep time); (iii) and computer modelling of past/present climate change. This session is a ‘Friends of the Pleistocene’ initiative.

Session Convenors: Shaun Eaves (Victoria University of Wellington), Katelyn Johnson (GNS Science), Holly Winton (Victoria University of Wellington), Andrew Lorrey (NIWA), Peter Almond (Lincoln University) 

Geochemical tools and applications to reconstruct environmental and climate change, human impact and Earth history in New Zealand, Australia and Antarctica (in association with Geochemistry SIG)

This session highlights innovative research of the New Zealand and overseas geochemistry community about environmental and climate change. It discusses technological developments and applications of new indicators on topics such as reconstructing productivity, nutrient cycling and water quality in aquatic environments, and metal tracers and non-traditional isotope systems to quantify processes on land and at sea. Selected topics discuss pollution and human impact or new research into global geochemical cycles across time that link the earth, ocean and atmosphere. Multiproxy reconstructions of life evolution and bioheritage, high-resolution paleorecords and dating of environmental archives are also presented.

 Session Convenors: Sebastian Naeher (GNS Science), James Scott (University of Otago), Dan Sinclair (Victoria University of Wellington)

The cryosphere

Advances in snow and ice research are critical to New Zealand and globally. We invite abstracts on cryospheric research, on topics related to the following subjects. i) The polar regions, including ice sheet surface mass balance, glaciological processes, past ice sheet behavior, improvements in ice sheet models, and ocean, atmosphere, and sea ice processes. ii) Alpine environments, including past, present, and future changes in Southern Alps glaciers, glacier dynamics, seasonal snow, the high-mountain water cycle, and other physical snowpack processes.

Session Convenors: Alexandra Gossart (Victoria University of Wellington), Heather Purdie (University of Canterbury), Lauren Vargo (Victoria University of Wellington)

 

Linking People and Geosciences

A Decade of Disasters: Recent Advances in Engineering Geology in Aotearoa

Earthquakes and climate-related natural hazard events in Aotearoa over the last decade have initiated a wealth of research activity and resulted in significant changes in engineering geological practice.  This session will highlight the recent advances in the field of engineering geology and how post-disaster research is improving engineering design practice.

Session Convenors: Clark Fenton (School of Earth & Environment, University of Canterbury), Richmond Beetham (Coffey), David Bell (School of Earth & Environment, University of Canterbury ), Richard Justice (ENGEO)

Geoscience of Petroleum in New Zealand (in association with Oil and Gas SIG)

Petroleum (oil and gas) has been an important pursuit of geoscientific endeavours in New Zealand for many decades, and these endeavours have built a rich legacy of data and knowledge about our sedimentary basins and their constituent depositional systems and structures.  The proposed Session will include historical perspectives, and case studies from basin to oil and gas field scale, showcasing the latest insights and technological applications in exploration, appraisal and development of New Zealand’s petroleum resources, and extending to prospective unconventional resource classes.  Acknowledging the deliberate pivot of global energy systems away from carbon-based resources, the session will invoke “a brilliant sunset” whereby our understanding of New Zealand petroleum systems helps to enable a constructive transition.

Session Convenor: Mac Beggs

Mineral Deposits: Geology, Exploration, Resources and Sustainability (in association with AusIMM)

This session is intended to be broad to capture all aspects of research on mineral deposits, exploration for mineral deposits, and examination of mineral systems and their resources, both in New Zealand and globally. This session welcomes papers that examine the structural controls on the location, architecture, depositional processes, and post-mineralisation modification of mineral deposits, through the implementation of traditional and innovative techniques at micro- to crustal-scale; through papers that examine exploration techniques or approaches to find mineral deposits; and papers that explore resource modelling, responsible development of resources and post-mining processes like mine-closure, remediation and acid and metalliferous drainage.

Session Convenor: Michael Gazley (AusIMM)

Transdisciplinary approaches to understanding human-environmental transformations

An increasing number of transdisciplinary studies have shown that the combination of geomorphological, palaeoecological, geophysical and archaeological methods is an especially powerful and effective approach to evaluate archives and to decipher the transformation of environments under human influence. This session aims to highlight the potential of transdisciplinary approaches to understanding the past environments of Aotearoa.

Session Convenor: Matiu Prebble (University of Canterbury)

Geo-Education, Outreach, & International Development (GeOID); including the Covid 19 Experience (in association with GeOID SIG)

This session introduces a new GSNZ Special Interest Group, reborn from the earlier Geo-Education SIG. GeOID widens the SIG scope to include all aspects of Geoscience outreach and international development. This session also includes papers on the Geo-Education experience under Covid-19 restrictions.  Papers are welcomed in thematic areas such as geoscience and: policy; international development; outreach; Covid-19; the amateur world; the industrial world & development; and similar. This area is of deep relevance to the uptake, influence and impact of geoscience in a rapidly changing world.

Session Convenor: Michael G. Petterson (Auckland University of Technology) and members of the GeOID Special Interest Group Committee