Black and white images show damage caused by the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, Alaska.
The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami Completed
By Alaska Science Center
March 25, 2024
Video of 1964 Valdez Tsunami
4.5 minutes of shaking
The 1964 Earthquake Survivors
1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
On March 27, 1964 at 5:36 p.m. local time an earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska, approximately 15.5 miles (25 km) beneath the surface. In addition to the earthquake, the event triggered a major tsunami that caused casualties and damage from the Kodiak Islands to northern California.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake is the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history and the second-largest earthquake recorded with modern instruments. The earthquake was felt throughout most of mainland Alaska, as far west as Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands 800 miles away from Anchorage, and at Seattle, Washington, more than 1,200 miles to the southeast of the fault rupture, where the Space Needle swayed perceptibly. The earthquake caused rivers, lakes, and other waterways to slosh as far away as the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Water-level recorders in 47 states—the entire Nation except for Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island—registered the earthquake. It was so large that it caused the entire Earth to ring like a bell: vibrations that were among the first of their kind ever recorded by modern instruments.
The Great Alaska Earthquake spawned thousands of lesser aftershocks and hundreds of damaging landslides, submarine slumps, and other ground failures. Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, located west of the fault rupture, sustained heavy property damage. Tsunamis produced by the earthquake resulted in deaths and damage as far away as Oregon and California. Altogether the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis caused 131 fatalities and an estimated $3.1 billion in property losses (in 2024 dollars).
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were the first earth scientists to respond to the devastated region, and they mapped land-level changes resulting from the 1964 earthquake all along the coast of southern Alaska. They were astonished to find that the earthquake was accompanied by vertical shifts of the Earth’s surface over an area two-thirds the size of California. Parts of the coast sank, or subsided, as much as 8 feet, and other parts rose by as much as 38 feet. In addition, geodetic surveys showed that much of coastal Alaska moved seaward at least 50 feet.
It is now recognized that major subduction-zone earthquakes produce a pattern of uplift of the coastline above the shallowest and most seaward part of a rupture, and that subsidence of the coastline occurs farther inland from the rupture. Most of the population of Alaska and its major transportation routes, ports, and infrastructure lie near the eastern segment of the Aleutian Trench that ruptured in the 1964 earthquake. Although the Great Alaska Earthquake was tragic because of the loss of life and property, it provided a wealth of data about subduction-zone earthquakes and the hazards they pose. The leap in scientific understanding that followed the 1964 earthquake has led to major breakthroughs in earth science research worldwide.
VIDEO: The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
VIDEO: The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
VIDEO: The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
VIDEO: 1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
VIDEO: 1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
VIDEO: 1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
VIDEO: Geologist George Plafker Public Talk
VIDEO: Geologist George Plafker Public Talk
VIDEO: Geologist George Plafker Public Talk
Video: Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2 - Causes & Effects
Video: Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2 - Causes & Effects
Video: Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2 - Causes & Effects
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
By the Numbers:
- Magnitude 9.2
- Second largest earthquake ever recorded
- Shaking lasted 4.5 minutes
- 131 fatalities across many states: 115 in AK, 16 in OR and CA
- Of those, 119 died in tsunamis triggered by underwater landslides, not by the earthquake-induced tsunami
- $3.1 billion in property losses (2024 dollars)
- 36 feet (11m) max uplift on Montague Island
- 580-mile section of the fault plane ruptured in ~240 seconds
- 185,000 square miles of surface destruction, an area larger than California
- Lateral movements up to 67 feet (averaged 27 feet)
1964 Earthquake Survivor Stories
Listen
Listen to the astonishing stories told by survivors, including those at Chenega, as re-told by Henry Fountain (NPR).
Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Get Ready Alaska Survivor Stories:
- Dr. James Taylor - Oct. 25, 2023 (00:08:46)
- Linda Dorner - April 25, 2023 (00:13:02)
- Oliver Holm - April 12, 2023 (00:33:28)
- Marie Lundstrom - March 22, 2023 (00:35:32)
Read
1964 Alaskan Earthquake – Personal Accounts (wordpress.com)
Earthquake and Tsunami Safety:
Earthquakes – Drop Cover and Hold ON!
- Feature Story: The Great ShakeOut
- Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964—Magnitude 9.2 —Causes & Effects (video 6:43)
- Alaska—Regional Tectonics and Earthquakes (video 8:39)
- Earthquake Intensity—What controls the shaking you feel? (video 8:17)
- Tectonic Plates—What are the lithospheric plates? (video 6:39)
- How to Prepare for an Earthquake
- What should I do During an earthquake? (USGS FAQs)
Tsunami – If you feel shaking for more than 20 seconds and it is difficult to stand, or the tsunami siren is heard move inland to higher ground.
- Valdez Prepared (Tsunami Awareness from 1964 to present) (video 6:10)
- Story Map: A Hidden Wave Emerges - Tsunami Hazard in Upper Cook Inlet
- Tsunamis in Alaska
- The 1964 Tsunami Propagation in the Pacific Ocean
- Tsunamis Generated by Megathrust Earthquakes (video 5:43)
The leap in scientific understanding from the 1964 earthquake has led to:
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The establishment of
- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP)
- NOAA Tsunami Warning System (NOAA-TWS)
- Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS)
- National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)
- Global Seismographic Network (GSN)
- Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC)
And major breakthroughs in
Additional Links:
Alaska Seismic Hazard Map
The National Seismic Hazard Maps developed by the USGS show the spatial probability of peak earthquake-driven ground motion levels. Since the last revisions to the map for Alaska in 2007, scientists have made significant advances in understanding active faulting, fault slip rates, and fault behavior.
Hazards in Alaska
A major goal of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is to reduce the vulnerability of the people and areas most at risk from natural hazards. Working with partners throughout all sectors of society, the USGS provides information, products, and knowledge to help build more resilient communities. This site provides important links to a number of hazard related internet sites that provide important...
2023 50-State Long-term National Seismic Hazard Model
The 2023 50-State Update of the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) defines the potential for earthquake ground shaking for various probability levels across the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii and is applied in seismic provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, risk assessments, and other public policy. The updated model represents an assessment of the best...
M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage Earthquake
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck north of Anchorage, Alaska, on November 30, 2018, at 8:29 a.m. local time (17:29:28 UTC).
Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards
Alaska has more large earthquakes than the rest of the United States combined. More than three-quarters of the state’s population live in an area that can experience a magnitude 7 earthquake. Our research provides objective science that helps stakeholders prepare for and mitigate the effects of future earthquakes and tsunamis, which bolsters the economic health and well-being of Alaska and the...
Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone Studies
Our research team is exploring seismic and aseismic slip along the Alaska-Aleutian arc and studying the prehistoric record of megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone Seismic and Aseismic Slip : Tectonic tremor and associated slow slip events represent a newly discovered part of the earthquake cycle. This research aims to understand the process generating...
Filter Total Items: 27
Black and white images show damage caused by the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
Black and white images show damage caused by the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, Alaska.
The Aleutian Cradle of Tsunamis
THE ALEUTIAN CRADLE OF TSUNAMIS
(Click here to read EOS Feature: Seismic Sources in the Aleutian Cradle of Tsunamis)
Stratigraphic contact marking 1964 uplift of Montague Island, Alaska
Stratigraphic contact marking uplift of Montague Island, caused by slip on the Patton Bay fault system during the 1964 M9.2 Great ALaska Earthquake.
Stratigraphic contact marking uplift of Montague Island, caused by slip on the Patton Bay fault system during the 1964 M9.2 Great ALaska Earthquake.
1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake (SPANISH)
See English version already posted in Gallery
See English version already posted in Gallery
Turnagain Heights landslide, Anchorage
The Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage occurred along a steep bluff fronting Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. Its length, which was parallel to the bluff, was about one and half miles; its width was about a quarter to half a mile. This landslide reduced to rubble many of the finer homes of the city of Anchorage.
The Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage occurred along a steep bluff fronting Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. Its length, which was parallel to the bluff, was about one and half miles; its width was about a quarter to half a mile. This landslide reduced to rubble many of the finer homes of the city of Anchorage.
The village of Portage, Alaska
The village of Portage, Alaska at the head of Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, is flooded at high tide as a result of 6 feet of tectonic subsidence during the earthquake.
The village of Portage, Alaska at the head of Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, is flooded at high tide as a result of 6 feet of tectonic subsidence during the earthquake.
The modern wave-cut bedrock surface surrounding Middleton Island
The modern wave-cut bedrock surface surrounding Middleton Island (the flat surface between the base of the cliffs and the water) was submerged at a comparable stage of tide before the earthquake.
The modern wave-cut bedrock surface surrounding Middleton Island (the flat surface between the base of the cliffs and the water) was submerged at a comparable stage of tide before the earthquake.
Blackstone Bay underwater landslide
An underwater landslide in Blackstone Bay produced a large wave which surged to points 80 feet above sea level. The trees in the photo are about 50 to 75 feet high.
An underwater landslide in Blackstone Bay produced a large wave which surged to points 80 feet above sea level. The trees in the photo are about 50 to 75 feet high.
Railroad tracks
The rails in this approach to a railroad bridge near the head of Turnagain Arm were torn from their ties and buckled laterally by channelward movement of the riverbanks during the earthquake. The bridge was also com pressed and developed a hump from vertical buckling.
The rails in this approach to a railroad bridge near the head of Turnagain Arm were torn from their ties and buckled laterally by channelward movement of the riverbanks during the earthquake. The bridge was also com pressed and developed a hump from vertical buckling.
Highway near Portage
This highway embankment fissured and spread (lurched). The road was built on thick deposits of alluvium and tidal estuary mud along Turnagain Arm near Portage, Alaska. Failure of railway and highway embankments by fissuring and spreading, and by subsidence of the embankments into underlying, earthquake-weakened, unconsolidated deposits.
This highway embankment fissured and spread (lurched). The road was built on thick deposits of alluvium and tidal estuary mud along Turnagain Arm near Portage, Alaska. Failure of railway and highway embankments by fissuring and spreading, and by subsidence of the embankments into underlying, earthquake-weakened, unconsolidated deposits.
Whittier waterfront
The dock area, a tank farm, and railroad facilities at Whittier were severely damaged by surge-waves developed by underwater landslides in Passage Canal. The waves inundated the area of darkened ground, where the snow was soiled or removed by the waves.
The dock area, a tank farm, and railroad facilities at Whittier were severely damaged by surge-waves developed by underwater landslides in Passage Canal. The waves inundated the area of darkened ground, where the snow was soiled or removed by the waves.
Truck at Lowell Point
This truck at Lowell Point, 2 miles from Seward, was bent around a tree by the surge-waves generated by the underwater landslides along the Seward waterfront. The truck was about 32 feet above water level at the time of the earthquake. Many landslides generated by the 1964 earthquake originated beneath, or came to rest within, large bodies of water.
This truck at Lowell Point, 2 miles from Seward, was bent around a tree by the surge-waves generated by the underwater landslides along the Seward waterfront. The truck was about 32 feet above water level at the time of the earthquake. Many landslides generated by the 1964 earthquake originated beneath, or came to rest within, large bodies of water.
Seward waterfront
The waterfront at Seward, looking south, before earthquake-generated underwater landslides, surge-waves, and tsunami waves devastated the water front. Note the small boat harbor, the railroad yards, the large docks, and other waterfront facilities which were removed by the underwater land slides.
The waterfront at Seward, looking south, before earthquake-generated underwater landslides, surge-waves, and tsunami waves devastated the water front. Note the small boat harbor, the railroad yards, the large docks, and other waterfront facilities which were removed by the underwater land slides.
Seward waterfront damage
The waterfront at Seward a few months after the earthquake, looking north. Note the "scalloped" shoreline left by the underwater landslides, the severed tracks in the railroad yard which dangle over the landslide scarp, and the windrow-like heaps of railroad cars and other debris thrown up by the tsunami waves.
The waterfront at Seward a few months after the earthquake, looking north. Note the "scalloped" shoreline left by the underwater landslides, the severed tracks in the railroad yard which dangle over the landslide scarp, and the windrow-like heaps of railroad cars and other debris thrown up by the tsunami waves.
Government Hill elementary school
Close-up of the elementary school which was destroyed by the Government Hill landslide. Subsidence of the graben at the head of the Government Hill landslide in Anchorage tore apart an elementary school and converted the schoolyard into a jumble of fissures, scarps, and tilted and subsided blocks of broken ground.
Close-up of the elementary school which was destroyed by the Government Hill landslide. Subsidence of the graben at the head of the Government Hill landslide in Anchorage tore apart an elementary school and converted the schoolyard into a jumble of fissures, scarps, and tilted and subsided blocks of broken ground.
Fourth Avenue landslide, downtown Anchorage
Scarp at the subsidence trough or graben of the Fourth Avenue landslide, downtown Anchorage. Before the earthquake, the sidewalk in front of the stores on the right, which are in the graben, was at the level of the street on the left, which was not involved in the subsidence.
Scarp at the subsidence trough or graben of the Fourth Avenue landslide, downtown Anchorage. Before the earthquake, the sidewalk in front of the stores on the right, which are in the graben, was at the level of the street on the left, which was not involved in the subsidence.
Uplifted dock on Hinchinbrook Island, Alaska
During the earthquake fundamental changes in the level of the earth's crust occurred in south-central Alaska and adjacent off shore areas. Uplifted dock on Hinchinbrook Island, Prince William Sound. Land in this area rose about 8 feet during the earthquake, and the dock can now be used only at extremely high tides.
During the earthquake fundamental changes in the level of the earth's crust occurred in south-central Alaska and adjacent off shore areas. Uplifted dock on Hinchinbrook Island, Prince William Sound. Land in this area rose about 8 feet during the earthquake, and the dock can now be used only at extremely high tides.
Turnagain Heights landslide damage, Anchorage
Close-up of damaged homes at Turnagain Heights landslide, Anchorage from 1964 earthquake.
Close-up of damaged homes at Turnagain Heights landslide, Anchorage from 1964 earthquake.
Alaska Railroad damage
A series of earthquake-triggered landslides in glacial deposits disrupted almost a mile of The Alaska Railroad mainline at Potter Hill, near Anchorage. Avalanches and especially landslides produced major damage to transportation routes during the 1964 earthquake.
A series of earthquake-triggered landslides in glacial deposits disrupted almost a mile of The Alaska Railroad mainline at Potter Hill, near Anchorage. Avalanches and especially landslides produced major damage to transportation routes during the 1964 earthquake.
Rockslide on Sherman Glacier
The 1964 earthquake precipitated some large rockslides in the Chugach Mountains. The debris from this one, which fell on Sherman Glacier, covered about 2 square miles. It originated on the highest mountain in the right background.
The 1964 earthquake precipitated some large rockslides in the Chugach Mountains. The debris from this one, which fell on Sherman Glacier, covered about 2 square miles. It originated on the highest mountain in the right background.
Earthquake triggered avalanche
At many places along the mountain front bordering Turnagain Arm, earthquake triggered avalanches buried the Seward Highway and the main line of The Alaska Railroad. In this slide the railroad is on top of the embankment at the foot of the mountain; "the highway is at the foot of the embankment, at the edge of the mud flats.
At many places along the mountain front bordering Turnagain Arm, earthquake triggered avalanches buried the Seward Highway and the main line of The Alaska Railroad. In this slide the railroad is on top of the embankment at the foot of the mountain; "the highway is at the foot of the embankment, at the edge of the mud flats.
On March 27, 1964 at 5:36 p.m. local time an earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska, approximately 15.5 miles (25 km) beneath the surface. In addition to the earthquake, the event triggered a major tsunami that caused casualties and damage from the Kodiak Islands to northern California.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake is the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history and the second-largest earthquake recorded with modern instruments. The earthquake was felt throughout most of mainland Alaska, as far west as Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands 800 miles away from Anchorage, and at Seattle, Washington, more than 1,200 miles to the southeast of the fault rupture, where the Space Needle swayed perceptibly. The earthquake caused rivers, lakes, and other waterways to slosh as far away as the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Water-level recorders in 47 states—the entire Nation except for Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island—registered the earthquake. It was so large that it caused the entire Earth to ring like a bell: vibrations that were among the first of their kind ever recorded by modern instruments.
The Great Alaska Earthquake spawned thousands of lesser aftershocks and hundreds of damaging landslides, submarine slumps, and other ground failures. Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, located west of the fault rupture, sustained heavy property damage. Tsunamis produced by the earthquake resulted in deaths and damage as far away as Oregon and California. Altogether the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis caused 131 fatalities and an estimated $3.1 billion in property losses (in 2024 dollars).
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were the first earth scientists to respond to the devastated region, and they mapped land-level changes resulting from the 1964 earthquake all along the coast of southern Alaska. They were astonished to find that the earthquake was accompanied by vertical shifts of the Earth’s surface over an area two-thirds the size of California. Parts of the coast sank, or subsided, as much as 8 feet, and other parts rose by as much as 38 feet. In addition, geodetic surveys showed that much of coastal Alaska moved seaward at least 50 feet.
It is now recognized that major subduction-zone earthquakes produce a pattern of uplift of the coastline above the shallowest and most seaward part of a rupture, and that subsidence of the coastline occurs farther inland from the rupture. Most of the population of Alaska and its major transportation routes, ports, and infrastructure lie near the eastern segment of the Aleutian Trench that ruptured in the 1964 earthquake. Although the Great Alaska Earthquake was tragic because of the loss of life and property, it provided a wealth of data about subduction-zone earthquakes and the hazards they pose. The leap in scientific understanding that followed the 1964 earthquake has led to major breakthroughs in earth science research worldwide.
VIDEO: The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
VIDEO: The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
VIDEO: The 1964 Tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
VIDEO: 1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
VIDEO: 1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
VIDEO: 1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake
VIDEO: Geologist George Plafker Public Talk
VIDEO: Geologist George Plafker Public Talk
VIDEO: Geologist George Plafker Public Talk
Video: Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2 - Causes & Effects
Video: Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2 - Causes & Effects
Video: Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 - Magnitude 9.2 - Causes & Effects
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
By the Numbers:
- Magnitude 9.2
- Second largest earthquake ever recorded
- Shaking lasted 4.5 minutes
- 131 fatalities across many states: 115 in AK, 16 in OR and CA
- Of those, 119 died in tsunamis triggered by underwater landslides, not by the earthquake-induced tsunami
- $3.1 billion in property losses (2024 dollars)
- 36 feet (11m) max uplift on Montague Island
- 580-mile section of the fault plane ruptured in ~240 seconds
- 185,000 square miles of surface destruction, an area larger than California
- Lateral movements up to 67 feet (averaged 27 feet)
1964 Earthquake Survivor Stories
Listen
Listen to the astonishing stories told by survivors, including those at Chenega, as re-told by Henry Fountain (NPR).
Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Get Ready Alaska Survivor Stories:
- Dr. James Taylor - Oct. 25, 2023 (00:08:46)
- Linda Dorner - April 25, 2023 (00:13:02)
- Oliver Holm - April 12, 2023 (00:33:28)
- Marie Lundstrom - March 22, 2023 (00:35:32)
Read
1964 Alaskan Earthquake – Personal Accounts (wordpress.com)
Earthquake and Tsunami Safety:
Earthquakes – Drop Cover and Hold ON!
- Feature Story: The Great ShakeOut
- Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964—Magnitude 9.2 —Causes & Effects (video 6:43)
- Alaska—Regional Tectonics and Earthquakes (video 8:39)
- Earthquake Intensity—What controls the shaking you feel? (video 8:17)
- Tectonic Plates—What are the lithospheric plates? (video 6:39)
- How to Prepare for an Earthquake
- What should I do During an earthquake? (USGS FAQs)
Tsunami – If you feel shaking for more than 20 seconds and it is difficult to stand, or the tsunami siren is heard move inland to higher ground.
- Valdez Prepared (Tsunami Awareness from 1964 to present) (video 6:10)
- Story Map: A Hidden Wave Emerges - Tsunami Hazard in Upper Cook Inlet
- Tsunamis in Alaska
- The 1964 Tsunami Propagation in the Pacific Ocean
- Tsunamis Generated by Megathrust Earthquakes (video 5:43)
The leap in scientific understanding from the 1964 earthquake has led to:
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The establishment of
- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP)
- NOAA Tsunami Warning System (NOAA-TWS)
- Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS)
- National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)
- Global Seismographic Network (GSN)
- Alaska Earthquake Center (AEC)
And major breakthroughs in
Additional Links:
Alaska Seismic Hazard Map
The National Seismic Hazard Maps developed by the USGS show the spatial probability of peak earthquake-driven ground motion levels. Since the last revisions to the map for Alaska in 2007, scientists have made significant advances in understanding active faulting, fault slip rates, and fault behavior.
Hazards in Alaska
A major goal of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is to reduce the vulnerability of the people and areas most at risk from natural hazards. Working with partners throughout all sectors of society, the USGS provides information, products, and knowledge to help build more resilient communities. This site provides important links to a number of hazard related internet sites that provide important...
2023 50-State Long-term National Seismic Hazard Model
The 2023 50-State Update of the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) defines the potential for earthquake ground shaking for various probability levels across the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii and is applied in seismic provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, risk assessments, and other public policy. The updated model represents an assessment of the best...
M7.1 November 30, 2018 Anchorage Earthquake
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck north of Anchorage, Alaska, on November 30, 2018, at 8:29 a.m. local time (17:29:28 UTC).
Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards
Alaska has more large earthquakes than the rest of the United States combined. More than three-quarters of the state’s population live in an area that can experience a magnitude 7 earthquake. Our research provides objective science that helps stakeholders prepare for and mitigate the effects of future earthquakes and tsunamis, which bolsters the economic health and well-being of Alaska and the...
Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone Studies
Our research team is exploring seismic and aseismic slip along the Alaska-Aleutian arc and studying the prehistoric record of megathrust earthquakes and tsunamis along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone Seismic and Aseismic Slip : Tectonic tremor and associated slow slip events represent a newly discovered part of the earthquake cycle. This research aims to understand the process generating...
Filter Total Items: 27
Black and white images show damage caused by the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, Alaska
Black and white images show damage caused by the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, Alaska.
Black and white images show damage caused by the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, Alaska.
The Aleutian Cradle of Tsunamis
THE ALEUTIAN CRADLE OF TSUNAMIS
(Click here to read EOS Feature: Seismic Sources in the Aleutian Cradle of Tsunamis)
Stratigraphic contact marking 1964 uplift of Montague Island, Alaska
Stratigraphic contact marking uplift of Montague Island, caused by slip on the Patton Bay fault system during the 1964 M9.2 Great ALaska Earthquake.
Stratigraphic contact marking uplift of Montague Island, caused by slip on the Patton Bay fault system during the 1964 M9.2 Great ALaska Earthquake.
1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake (SPANISH)
See English version already posted in Gallery
See English version already posted in Gallery
Turnagain Heights landslide, Anchorage
The Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage occurred along a steep bluff fronting Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. Its length, which was parallel to the bluff, was about one and half miles; its width was about a quarter to half a mile. This landslide reduced to rubble many of the finer homes of the city of Anchorage.
The Turnagain Heights landslide in Anchorage occurred along a steep bluff fronting Knik Arm of Cook Inlet. Its length, which was parallel to the bluff, was about one and half miles; its width was about a quarter to half a mile. This landslide reduced to rubble many of the finer homes of the city of Anchorage.
The village of Portage, Alaska
The village of Portage, Alaska at the head of Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, is flooded at high tide as a result of 6 feet of tectonic subsidence during the earthquake.
The village of Portage, Alaska at the head of Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, is flooded at high tide as a result of 6 feet of tectonic subsidence during the earthquake.
The modern wave-cut bedrock surface surrounding Middleton Island
The modern wave-cut bedrock surface surrounding Middleton Island (the flat surface between the base of the cliffs and the water) was submerged at a comparable stage of tide before the earthquake.
The modern wave-cut bedrock surface surrounding Middleton Island (the flat surface between the base of the cliffs and the water) was submerged at a comparable stage of tide before the earthquake.
Blackstone Bay underwater landslide
An underwater landslide in Blackstone Bay produced a large wave which surged to points 80 feet above sea level. The trees in the photo are about 50 to 75 feet high.
An underwater landslide in Blackstone Bay produced a large wave which surged to points 80 feet above sea level. The trees in the photo are about 50 to 75 feet high.
Railroad tracks
The rails in this approach to a railroad bridge near the head of Turnagain Arm were torn from their ties and buckled laterally by channelward movement of the riverbanks during the earthquake. The bridge was also com pressed and developed a hump from vertical buckling.
The rails in this approach to a railroad bridge near the head of Turnagain Arm were torn from their ties and buckled laterally by channelward movement of the riverbanks during the earthquake. The bridge was also com pressed and developed a hump from vertical buckling.
Highway near Portage
This highway embankment fissured and spread (lurched). The road was built on thick deposits of alluvium and tidal estuary mud along Turnagain Arm near Portage, Alaska. Failure of railway and highway embankments by fissuring and spreading, and by subsidence of the embankments into underlying, earthquake-weakened, unconsolidated deposits.
This highway embankment fissured and spread (lurched). The road was built on thick deposits of alluvium and tidal estuary mud along Turnagain Arm near Portage, Alaska. Failure of railway and highway embankments by fissuring and spreading, and by subsidence of the embankments into underlying, earthquake-weakened, unconsolidated deposits.
Whittier waterfront
The dock area, a tank farm, and railroad facilities at Whittier were severely damaged by surge-waves developed by underwater landslides in Passage Canal. The waves inundated the area of darkened ground, where the snow was soiled or removed by the waves.
The dock area, a tank farm, and railroad facilities at Whittier were severely damaged by surge-waves developed by underwater landslides in Passage Canal. The waves inundated the area of darkened ground, where the snow was soiled or removed by the waves.
Truck at Lowell Point
This truck at Lowell Point, 2 miles from Seward, was bent around a tree by the surge-waves generated by the underwater landslides along the Seward waterfront. The truck was about 32 feet above water level at the time of the earthquake. Many landslides generated by the 1964 earthquake originated beneath, or came to rest within, large bodies of water.
This truck at Lowell Point, 2 miles from Seward, was bent around a tree by the surge-waves generated by the underwater landslides along the Seward waterfront. The truck was about 32 feet above water level at the time of the earthquake. Many landslides generated by the 1964 earthquake originated beneath, or came to rest within, large bodies of water.
Seward waterfront
The waterfront at Seward, looking south, before earthquake-generated underwater landslides, surge-waves, and tsunami waves devastated the water front. Note the small boat harbor, the railroad yards, the large docks, and other waterfront facilities which were removed by the underwater land slides.
The waterfront at Seward, looking south, before earthquake-generated underwater landslides, surge-waves, and tsunami waves devastated the water front. Note the small boat harbor, the railroad yards, the large docks, and other waterfront facilities which were removed by the underwater land slides.
Seward waterfront damage
The waterfront at Seward a few months after the earthquake, looking north. Note the "scalloped" shoreline left by the underwater landslides, the severed tracks in the railroad yard which dangle over the landslide scarp, and the windrow-like heaps of railroad cars and other debris thrown up by the tsunami waves.
The waterfront at Seward a few months after the earthquake, looking north. Note the "scalloped" shoreline left by the underwater landslides, the severed tracks in the railroad yard which dangle over the landslide scarp, and the windrow-like heaps of railroad cars and other debris thrown up by the tsunami waves.
Government Hill elementary school
Close-up of the elementary school which was destroyed by the Government Hill landslide. Subsidence of the graben at the head of the Government Hill landslide in Anchorage tore apart an elementary school and converted the schoolyard into a jumble of fissures, scarps, and tilted and subsided blocks of broken ground.
Close-up of the elementary school which was destroyed by the Government Hill landslide. Subsidence of the graben at the head of the Government Hill landslide in Anchorage tore apart an elementary school and converted the schoolyard into a jumble of fissures, scarps, and tilted and subsided blocks of broken ground.
Fourth Avenue landslide, downtown Anchorage
Scarp at the subsidence trough or graben of the Fourth Avenue landslide, downtown Anchorage. Before the earthquake, the sidewalk in front of the stores on the right, which are in the graben, was at the level of the street on the left, which was not involved in the subsidence.
Scarp at the subsidence trough or graben of the Fourth Avenue landslide, downtown Anchorage. Before the earthquake, the sidewalk in front of the stores on the right, which are in the graben, was at the level of the street on the left, which was not involved in the subsidence.
Uplifted dock on Hinchinbrook Island, Alaska
During the earthquake fundamental changes in the level of the earth's crust occurred in south-central Alaska and adjacent off shore areas. Uplifted dock on Hinchinbrook Island, Prince William Sound. Land in this area rose about 8 feet during the earthquake, and the dock can now be used only at extremely high tides.
During the earthquake fundamental changes in the level of the earth's crust occurred in south-central Alaska and adjacent off shore areas. Uplifted dock on Hinchinbrook Island, Prince William Sound. Land in this area rose about 8 feet during the earthquake, and the dock can now be used only at extremely high tides.
Turnagain Heights landslide damage, Anchorage
Close-up of damaged homes at Turnagain Heights landslide, Anchorage from 1964 earthquake.
Close-up of damaged homes at Turnagain Heights landslide, Anchorage from 1964 earthquake.
Alaska Railroad damage
A series of earthquake-triggered landslides in glacial deposits disrupted almost a mile of The Alaska Railroad mainline at Potter Hill, near Anchorage. Avalanches and especially landslides produced major damage to transportation routes during the 1964 earthquake.
A series of earthquake-triggered landslides in glacial deposits disrupted almost a mile of The Alaska Railroad mainline at Potter Hill, near Anchorage. Avalanches and especially landslides produced major damage to transportation routes during the 1964 earthquake.
Rockslide on Sherman Glacier
The 1964 earthquake precipitated some large rockslides in the Chugach Mountains. The debris from this one, which fell on Sherman Glacier, covered about 2 square miles. It originated on the highest mountain in the right background.
The 1964 earthquake precipitated some large rockslides in the Chugach Mountains. The debris from this one, which fell on Sherman Glacier, covered about 2 square miles. It originated on the highest mountain in the right background.
Earthquake triggered avalanche
At many places along the mountain front bordering Turnagain Arm, earthquake triggered avalanches buried the Seward Highway and the main line of The Alaska Railroad. In this slide the railroad is on top of the embankment at the foot of the mountain; "the highway is at the foot of the embankment, at the edge of the mud flats.
At many places along the mountain front bordering Turnagain Arm, earthquake triggered avalanches buried the Seward Highway and the main line of The Alaska Railroad. In this slide the railroad is on top of the embankment at the foot of the mountain; "the highway is at the foot of the embankment, at the edge of the mud flats.