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Peter J Haeussler, Ph.D.

Most of my research is related to earthquake and tsunami hazards in Alaska, with a focus on paleoseismology, submarine landslides, and active faulting. I am the Alaska Coordinator for the Earthquake Hazards Program of the USGS. I also study various aspects of the framework geology of Alaska, with a focus on neotectonics and tectonics.  

I use various tools to understand earthquakes and earthquake hazards in Alaska. I’ve studied the tectonic evolution of parts of Alaska, accretionary prisms along Alaska’s margin, forearc and splay faulting, submarine landslides, mountain building and exhumation, landscape evolution, glacial histories, and sedimentary basins. I’ve worked with marine and terrestrial seismic reflection and potential field data. Current work is focused on lacustrine paleoseismology, splay faulting, and various seismic hazards projects.

Professional Experience

  • 1994 - Present  Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK

  • 1992 - 1994       Postdoctoral Researcher, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK

  • 1992                   Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA

  • 1986 - 1991       Research Assistant, University of California Santa Cruz

  • 1985 - 1988       Teaching Assistant, University of California Santa Cruz

  • 1985                   Geologist, Lancer Energy Corporation, Wilmore, KY

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D.   1991   University of California Santa Cruz    Earth Sciences

  • B.S.     1984    Michigan State University       Geology

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 1985-present, American Geophysical Union

  • 1985-present, Geological Society of America

  • 1992-present, Alaska Geological Society

  • 2010-present, Seismological Society of America

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow, Geological Society of America

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 25
No Result Found
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 154

Surface rupture map of the 2002 M7.9 Denali fault earthquake, Alaska: Digital data Surface rupture map of the 2002 M7.9 Denali fault earthquake, Alaska: Digital data

The November 3, 2002, Mw7.9 Denali Fault earthquake produced about 340 km of surface rupture along the Susitna Glacier Thrust Fault and the right-lateral, strike-slip Denali and Totschunda Faults. Digital photogrammetric methods were primarily used to create a 1:500-scale, three-dimensional surface rupture map, and 1:6,000-scale aerial photographs were used for three-dimensional...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Alaska Science Center

Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2007 Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2007

The collection of papers that follow continues the series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigative reports in Alaska under the broad umbrella of the geologic sciences. This series represents new and sometimes-preliminary findings that are of interest to Earth scientists in academia, government, and industry; to land and resource managers; and to the general public. The reports...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, John P. Galloway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

The role of ridge subduction in determining the geochemistry and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic evolution of the Kodiak batholith in southern Alaska The role of ridge subduction in determining the geochemistry and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic evolution of the Kodiak batholith in southern Alaska

The Paleocene Kodiak batholith, part of the Sanak–Baranof belt of Tertiary near-trench intrusive rocks, forms an elongate body (~ 150 km long) that transects Kodiak Island from SW to NE. The batholith consists of three zones (Southern, Central, and Northern) of kyanite-, muscovite-, and garnet-bearing biotite tonalite and granodiorite and less abundant granite that intruded an...
Authors
Robert A. Ayuso, Peter J. Haeussler, Dwight Bradley, David W. Farris, Nora K. Foley, Gregory A. Wandless
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Numerical study of tsunami generated by multiple submarine slope failures in Resurrection Bay, Alaska, during the MW 9.2 1964 earthquake Numerical study of tsunami generated by multiple submarine slope failures in Resurrection Bay, Alaska, during the MW 9.2 1964 earthquake

We use a viscous slide model of Jiang and LeBlond (1994) coupled with nonlinear shallow water equations to study tsunami waves in Resurrection Bay, in south-central Alaska. The town of Seward, located at the head of Resurrection Bay, was hit hard by both tectonic and local landslide-generated tsunami waves during the MW 9.2 1964 earthquake with an epicenter located about 150 km northeast...
Authors
E. Suleimani, R. Hansen, Peter J. Haeussler

Combined high-resolution LIDAR topography and multibeam bathymetry for northern Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska Combined high-resolution LIDAR topography and multibeam bathymetry for northern Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska

A new Digital Elevation Model was created using the best available high-resolution topography and multibeam bathymetry surrounding the area of Seward, Alaska. Datasets of (1) LIDAR topography collected for the Kenai Watershed Forum, (2) Seward harbor soundings from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and (3) multibeam bathymetry from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
Authors
Keith A. Labay, Peter J. Haeussler
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Neogene exhumation of the Tordrillo Mountains, Alaska, and correlations with Denali (Mount McKinley) Neogene exhumation of the Tordrillo Mountains, Alaska, and correlations with Denali (Mount McKinley)

No abstract available.
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Paul J O’Sullivan, Aaron L Berger, James A Spotila
By
Alaska Science Center

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 25
No Result Found
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 154

Surface rupture map of the 2002 M7.9 Denali fault earthquake, Alaska: Digital data Surface rupture map of the 2002 M7.9 Denali fault earthquake, Alaska: Digital data

The November 3, 2002, Mw7.9 Denali Fault earthquake produced about 340 km of surface rupture along the Susitna Glacier Thrust Fault and the right-lateral, strike-slip Denali and Totschunda Faults. Digital photogrammetric methods were primarily used to create a 1:500-scale, three-dimensional surface rupture map, and 1:6,000-scale aerial photographs were used for three-dimensional...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Alaska Science Center

Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2007 Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2007

The collection of papers that follow continues the series of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigative reports in Alaska under the broad umbrella of the geologic sciences. This series represents new and sometimes-preliminary findings that are of interest to Earth scientists in academia, government, and industry; to land and resource managers; and to the general public. The reports...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, John P. Galloway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

The role of ridge subduction in determining the geochemistry and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic evolution of the Kodiak batholith in southern Alaska The role of ridge subduction in determining the geochemistry and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic evolution of the Kodiak batholith in southern Alaska

The Paleocene Kodiak batholith, part of the Sanak–Baranof belt of Tertiary near-trench intrusive rocks, forms an elongate body (~ 150 km long) that transects Kodiak Island from SW to NE. The batholith consists of three zones (Southern, Central, and Northern) of kyanite-, muscovite-, and garnet-bearing biotite tonalite and granodiorite and less abundant granite that intruded an...
Authors
Robert A. Ayuso, Peter J. Haeussler, Dwight Bradley, David W. Farris, Nora K. Foley, Gregory A. Wandless
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Numerical study of tsunami generated by multiple submarine slope failures in Resurrection Bay, Alaska, during the MW 9.2 1964 earthquake Numerical study of tsunami generated by multiple submarine slope failures in Resurrection Bay, Alaska, during the MW 9.2 1964 earthquake

We use a viscous slide model of Jiang and LeBlond (1994) coupled with nonlinear shallow water equations to study tsunami waves in Resurrection Bay, in south-central Alaska. The town of Seward, located at the head of Resurrection Bay, was hit hard by both tectonic and local landslide-generated tsunami waves during the MW 9.2 1964 earthquake with an epicenter located about 150 km northeast...
Authors
E. Suleimani, R. Hansen, Peter J. Haeussler

Combined high-resolution LIDAR topography and multibeam bathymetry for northern Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska Combined high-resolution LIDAR topography and multibeam bathymetry for northern Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska

A new Digital Elevation Model was created using the best available high-resolution topography and multibeam bathymetry surrounding the area of Seward, Alaska. Datasets of (1) LIDAR topography collected for the Kenai Watershed Forum, (2) Seward harbor soundings from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and (3) multibeam bathymetry from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
Authors
Keith A. Labay, Peter J. Haeussler
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Neogene exhumation of the Tordrillo Mountains, Alaska, and correlations with Denali (Mount McKinley) Neogene exhumation of the Tordrillo Mountains, Alaska, and correlations with Denali (Mount McKinley)

No abstract available.
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Paul J O’Sullivan, Aaron L Berger, James A Spotila
By
Alaska Science Center

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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