What caused the 1964 earthquake in Alaska?
of the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake (red star), caused when the Pacific Plate lurched northward underneath the North American Plate. There was extensive damage to coastal towns and infrastructure throughout the region, particularly in Anchorage, Seward, Whittier, and Valdez.
What time did the Alaska 1964 earthquake start?
The Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964, magnitude approximately 8.3–8.4, began at 6:36 p.m. Its epicenter was in the northern part of the Prince William Sound area; focal depth was 20–50 km. Strong ground motion at Seward lasted 3–4 minutes.
How did people respond the Alaska earthquake of 1964?
The response of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Alaskan earthquake of 1964 was prompt and positive. On Good Friday afternoon, 27 March, a violent earthquake rocked 50,000 square miles of...
How strong was the earthquake in Anchorage Alaska 1964?
The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunamis—A Modern Perspective and Enduring Legacies. U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey. Fact Sheet 2014–3018 March 2014. Introduction. The magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska. Earthquake, which struck south-central Alaska at 5:36 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 1964, is the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history and the second-largest earthquake recorded with modern instruments.
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How long did the 1964 tsunami last?
four minutes and 38 secondsIt lasted four minutes and 38 seconds. 131 people died in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami's (USGS, 2012). The epicentre of the earthquake was 125 kilometres east of Anchorage, Alaska, where many inadequately engineered houses, buildings and infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.
How much damage did the 1964 Alaska Earthquake cause?
A Costly Disaster The earthquake and ensuing tsunamis caused about $2.3 billion of damageThe earthquake and ensuing tsunamis caused about $2.3 billion of damage (equivalent to $311 million in 1964). President Lyndon Johnson declared the entire state of Alaska a major disaster area a day after the earthquake.
How many deaths did the 1964 Alaska Earthquake cause?
The earthquake that occurred on March 27, 1964 was the largest in US history (magnitude 9.2 on the Richter scale) and the second largest ever recorded in the world. 1 Historical reports show that 115 people in Alaska died and an estimated 40-50 hospitalizations occurred for severe injuries.
Was there a tsunami in the 1964 Alaska Earthquake?
Description. The 1964 Alaska Tsunami was generated by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, the largest ever recorded in North America.
Has there ever been a 10.0 earthquake?
No, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen. The magnitude of an earthquake is related to the length of the fault on which it occurs. That is, the longer the fault, the larger the earthquake.
What are the 5 largest earthquake ever recorded?
Largest Earthquakes ever recordedValdivia, Chile 22 May 1960 (magnitude 9.5) ... Prince William Sound, Alaska 28 March 1964 (magnitude 9.2) ... Sumatra, Indonesia 26 December 2004 (magnitude 9.1) ... Sendai, Japan 11 March 2011 (magnitude 9.0) ... Kamchatka, Russia 4 November 1952 (magnitude 9.0)More items...
What's the biggest earthquake to hit Alaska?
The largest on-land earthquake in North America in almost 150 years occurred on the Denali fault in central Alaska on November 3rd, 2002, with a magnitude of 7.9.
What was the worst earthquake in history?
Also known as the Great Chilean earthquake (Spanish: Gran terremoto de Chile), it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. The earthquake hit on May 22 in the afternoon (19:11 GMT, 15:11 local time), approximately 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Chile, parallel to the city of Valdivia.
What are 5 interesting facts about 1964 Alaska Earthquake?
Geologic shake-up. An aerial view of the Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage. ... Deadly tidal waves. Tsunami damage in Kodiak, Alaska (Image credit: USGS) ... Schoolhouse lives. ... Deadly ground. ... Snapped trees. ... The day the earth moved. ... Sloshing and jostling. ... Second-biggest earthquake.More items...•
Where was the largest earthquake in the world?
ChileThe biggest earthquake ever recorded, of magnitude 9.5, happened in 1960 in Chile, at a subduction zone where the Pacific plate dives under the South American plate.
What is the biggest tsunami ever recorded?
Lituya Bay, Alaska, July 9, 1958 Its over 1,700-foot wave was the largest ever recorded for a tsunami. It inundated five square miles of land and cleared hundreds of thousands of trees.
How long did the longest earthquake last?
32 YearsA devastating earthquake that rocked the Indonesian island of Sumatra in 1861 was long thought to be a sudden rupture on a previously quiescent fault.
What was the worst earthquake in Alaska?
M9.2 earthquakeOn March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time, a M9. 2 earthquake rocked the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. This earthquake and ensuing tsunami took 131 lives (tsunami 122, earthquake 9), and caused about $2.3 billion in property loss (in 2013 dollars; equivalent to $311 million in 1964).
How long did the 7.0 earthquake in Alaska last?
about 4½ minutesThat quake, which lasted for about 4½ minutes, was the most powerful earthquake recorded in U.S. history. It destroyed a major part of downtown Anchorage and caused a tsunami that ravaged towns on the Gulf of Alaska and beyond.
What was the worst earthquake in history?
Also known as the Great Chilean earthquake (Spanish: Gran terremoto de Chile), it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. The earthquake hit on May 22 in the afternoon (19:11 GMT, 15:11 local time), approximately 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of Chile, parallel to the city of Valdivia.
What was the worst earthquake in US history?
The largest earthquake to hit the U.S. was on March 28, 1964, when a 9.2 magnitude quake struck Prince William Sound in Alaska.
How long did the Great Alaska earthquake last?
Four minutes may not seem like a long time, but when it comes to earthquakes, it’s an eternity, and tremors during the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 lasted at least four minutes.
When was the Alaska earthquake?
Seismic Seiches from the 1964 Alaska Earthquake. USGS.
How many people died in the earthquake?
The earthquake triggered a swell of devastating tsunamis, landslides and submarine slumps which caused massive property damage and loss of life. The death toll reached 131 people: 15 died during the initial tremors and the rest in the subsequent tsunamis and landslides.
What caused the landslide in Anchorage?
In the Turnagain Heights area of Anchorage, soil liquefaction (when the ground behaves like a liquid) triggered a landslide which moved parts of a suburban bluff 2,000 feet into the bay, taking up to 75 homes with it. The control tower at Anchorage International Airport collapsed, killing an air traffic controller.
Why was the 1964 earthquake so big?
According to the United States Geological Survey, “The 1964 earthquake was giant because of the large area of the fault that slipped during the earthquake and the large amount of slip, or relative motion, between opposite sides of the earthquake fault. ”.
What cities were affected by the tsunami?
Local tsunamis also caused destruction in Kodiak, Whittier and Seward . Downtown Anchorage had the most property damage mainly due to immense landslides, one of which dropped the business district nine feet.
How powerful was the earthquake in Alaska?
Most of Alaska’s mainland felt the magnitude 9.2 earthquake, which wobbled Seattle’s Space Needle some 1,200 miles away. The earthquake was so powerful it registered in all U.S. states except Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware.
How long did the Alaska earthquake last?
The earthquake lasted approximately 4.5 minutes and is the most powerful recorded earthquake in U.S. history. It is also the second largest earthquake ever recorded, next to the M9.5 earthquake in Chile in 1960. The map shows the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star), caused when the Pacific Plate lurched northward underneath ...
What caused the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
The map shows the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake (red star), caused when the Pacific Plate lurched northward underneath the North American Plate.
What is the 10th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering?
National Conference on Earthquake Engineering will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to mitigate the damaging effects of earthquakes and tsunamis.
What are seismic hazards in Anchorage?
Seismically triggered landslides are one of the greatest geologic hazards in Anchorage. These maps, by Randall W. Jibson and John A. Michael, depict seismic landslide hazards in Anchorage and are an important tool for planning, zoning, and emergency-response preparation.
What was the magnitude of the 1964 earthquake?
On March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time (March 28 at 3:36 UTC) an earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. The earthquake rupture started approximately 25 km beneath the surface, with its epicenter about 6 miles (10 km) east of the mouth of College Fiord, 56 miles (90 km) west of Valdez and 75 miles (120 km) ...
What is the tectonic zone of Alaska?
Tectonics & Earthquakes of Alaska—More than just plate boundaries. An animation that describes earthquakes along the Aleutian subduction zone, one of the most seismically active in the world, and the Queen Charlotte Transform Fault.
Where was the Alaska earthquake filmed?
These films were shot by amateur and professional cameramen in the hours and days following the earthquake at locations such as Anchorage, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Chenega, Afognak.
Where was the 1964 Alaska earthquake recorded?
The day the earth moved. A seismogram of the 1964 Alaska earthquake recorded in Namibia. (Image credit: IRIS) The world rang like a bell for several weeks from the earthquake waves.
What scale was the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
(Image credit: USGS) The earthquake initially had a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale. The moment magnitude scale, a better measure of seismic power, has since superseded the Richter scale.
What happened in Alaska in 1964?
Alaska Standard Time on March 27, 1964. The shaking lasted for more than four minutes, launching several deadly tsunamis and triggering killer landslides. The earthquake also transformed geology, because it revealed that oceanic plates are shoved under continents. This was one of the keys that unlocked the theory of plate tectonics.
How many people died in the Kodiak earthquake?
Tsunami damage in Kodiak, Alaska (Image credit: USGS) Of the 131 people killed during the earthquake, 119 died in tsunamis. Most were killed by tsunamis triggered by underwater landslides, not by the earthquake-induced tsunami.
How many people died in the Chenega tsunami?
Tsunami damage in Chenega, Alaska (Image credit: USGS) In Chenega, 25 of the village's 76 residents drowned in a tsunami. The only building that survived the wave intact was the schoolhouse, built 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level.
How long did it take to repair the Alaska Railroad?
It took 2.5 years to repair the earthquake damage to the Alaska Railroad. (Image credit: USGS) The damage totaled about $300 million in 1964 dollars ($2.3 billion in 2013 dollars).
How high above sea level was the tsunami?
Here, trees up to 101 feet (30 meters) above sea level were splintered by the tsunami generated by an underwater landslide in Port Valdez, Prince William Sound. (Image credit: USGS)
How long did the Great Alaska earthquake last?
The severe shaking pulverized the soil into a quicksand that swallowed houses and cars. [slideshow] The Great Alaska Earthquake lasted for nearly five minutes and registered a magnitude of 9.2, still the largest ever recorded in North America and second only to the 9.5-magnitude quake that struck Chile in 1960.
What time did the earthquake in Alaska happen?
Periodic rumbles were nothing new to Alaskans—four out of every five U.S. earthquakes occur in the state—but the quake that struck at 5:36 p.m. local time on Good Friday was unlike any they had experienced before. The earthquake centered 75 miles east of Anchorage caused the ground of south central Alaska to heave and convulse.
What did scientists learn from the Great Alaska earthquake?
Scientists learned more about soil liquefaction and tidal waves, which spurred the development of the National Tsunami Warning Center.
How many people died in the Valdez earthquake?
Tidal waves killed 31 in Valdez along with 25 in Chenega, one-third of the small village’s population. In Seward, the earthquake had ruptured oil tanks that were set ablaze, and when the tsunami arrived, it created a terrifying wave of fire.
What was the largest earthquake in North America?
Christopher Klein. Look back at the 9.2-magnitude earthquake, the largest ever recorded in North America, which shook Alaska 50 years ago. [slideshow]As the sunlight waned on March 27, 1964, Alaska’s frozen ground shivered violently. Periodic rumbles were nothing new to Alaskans—four out of every five U.S.
How many people died in the California tsunami?
With little warning under the cover of darkness around midnight, waves more than 14 feet above tidal height flooded 29 blocks of Crescent City, California, and killed 11. Further north, four campers on a beach in Newport, Oregon, also perished from the waves.
How deep was the Prince William Sound earthquake?
As destructive as the initial shaking was, however, the bigger disaster followed minutes later. The earthquake that began a dozen miles deep under Prince William Sound sparked submarine landslides that triggered catastrophic tsunamis.
Scientific Background
- It was the largest U.S. earthquake ever recorded, and a turning point in earth science. Learn about the great leaps in research over the past 50 years.
- Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office,...
- It was the largest U.S. earthquake ever recorded, and a turning point in earth science. Learn about the great leaps in research over the past 50 years.
- Abridged from Seismicity of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office,...
- This USGS Fact Sheet by Thomas M. Brocher, et al. commemorates the Alaska Earthquake and examines the advances in knowledge and technology that have helped improve earthquake preparation and respon...
- Tetonic summary, data, and maps.
Videos
- Short video (4 min) by Stephen Wessells, USGS relating how the largest quake in U.S. history had profound and lasting impacts on our lives. The video features USGS geologist George Plafker who, in...
- “The 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami” lecture by George Plafker, USGS Geologist Emeritus.
- Short video (4 min) by Stephen Wessells, USGS relating how the largest quake in U.S. history had profound and lasting impacts on our lives. The video features USGS geologist George Plafker who, in...
- “The 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami” lecture by George Plafker, USGS Geologist Emeritus.
- IRIS video directed by Robert F. Butler explaining the science behind the earthquake. Animations explain the magnitude (Just how big is 9.2?), rupture processes, elastic rebound, and resulting tsun...
- An animation about tsunami-generating megathrust earthquakes using examples from Japan (2011), Chile (2010), and Alaska (1964) to describe structures that generate deadly tsunami…
Historic Photos and Videos
- This “Story map” combines an interactive map with historic photos of the earthquake.
- Historic photos of damage.
- A documentary chronicling the first 72 hours after the 1964 Alaska Earthquake and the response to the disaster by the United States Office of Civil Defense, U.S. Military, and local, state, and fed...
- This “Story map” combines an interactive map with historic photos of the earthquake.
- Historic photos of damage.
- A documentary chronicling the first 72 hours after the 1964 Alaska Earthquake and the response to the disaster by the United States Office of Civil Defense, U.S. Military, and local, state, and fed...
- These films were shot by amateur and professional cameramen in the hours and days following the earthquake at locations such as Anchorage, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Chenega, Afognak.
News and Media
- Ned Rozell’s personal account of his meeting with George Plafker, one of three USGS Geologists who responded to the Alaska quake a few days after event. Plafker spent most of the summer in Alaska r...
- The 1964 earthquake was a defining moment in a territory that had just achieved statehood. Fifty years later, it continues to shape Alaska, its people, and the science of earthquakes. Thi…
- Ned Rozell’s personal account of his meeting with George Plafker, one of three USGS Geologists who responded to the Alaska quake a few days after event. Plafker spent most of the summer in Alaska r...
- The 1964 earthquake was a defining moment in a territory that had just achieved statehood. Fifty years later, it continues to shape Alaska, its people, and the science of earthquakes. This opinion...
Historic USGS Publications
- USGS circular published one month after the earthquake by Arthur Grantz, George Plafker, and Reuben Kachadoorian detailing their scientific investigations of the quake.
- Seismically triggered landslides are one of the greatest geologic hazards in Anchorage. These maps, by Randall W. Jibson and John A. Michael, depict seismic landslide hazards in Anchorage and are a...
Conferences
- SSA’s 2014 Annual Meeting will provide a stimulating exchange of research on a wide range of topics with colleagues from all over the world. Oral presentations, poster sessions, exhibits, field tri...
- The Tenth U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to mitigate the d…
- SSA’s 2014 Annual Meeting will provide a stimulating exchange of research on a wide range of topics with colleagues from all over the world. Oral presentations, poster sessions, exhibits, field tri...
- The Tenth U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share the latest knowledge and techniques to mitigate the damaging effe...
See Also
- Read personal accounts of the earthquake and submit your own story.
- IRIS webpage dedicated to George Plafker, a USGS field geologist noted for his studies of subduction-zone and backarc thrust earthquakes. Through very complete mapping of vertical deformation and f...
- Earthquake history, photos, videos, and more from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security …
- Read personal accounts of the earthquake and submit your own story.
- IRIS webpage dedicated to George Plafker, a USGS field geologist noted for his studies of subduction-zone and backarc thrust earthquakes. Through very complete mapping of vertical deformation and f...
- Earthquake history, photos, videos, and more from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.
- The Alaska Earthquake Alliance coordinates earthquake awareness and preparedness activities throughout Alaska. The purpose of the group is to bring together both institutions and individuals who ha...