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
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Filter Total Items: 154
Varve formation during the past three centuries in three large proglacial lakes in south-central Alaska Varve formation during the past three centuries in three large proglacial lakes in south-central Alaska
The sediments stored in the large, deep proglacial lakes of south-central Alaska are largely unstudied. We analyzed sediments in 20 cores, up to 160 cm long, from Eklutna, Kenai, and Skilak Lakes, using a combination of repeated lamination counting, radionuclide dating, event stratigraphy, and tephrochronology. We show that the characteristically rhythmic layers were deposited annually...
Authors
Evelin Boes, Maarten Van Daele, Jasper Moernaut, Sabine Schmidt, Britta J.L. Jensen, Nore Praet, Darrell Kaufman, Peter J. Haeussler, Michael G. Loso, Marc De Batist
Neotectonics of interior Alaska and the late Quaternary slip rate along the Denali fault system Neotectonics of interior Alaska and the late Quaternary slip rate along the Denali fault system
The neotectonics of southern Alaska (USA) are characterized by a several hundred kilometers–wide zone of dextral transpressional that spans the Alaska Range. The Denali fault system is the largest active strike-slip fault system in interior Alaska, and it produced a Mw 7.9 earthquake in 2002. To evaluate the late Quaternary slip rate on the Denali fault system, we collected samples for...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Ari Matmon, David P. Schwartz, Gordon G. Seitz
Eastern Denali Fault surface trace map, eastern Alaska and Yukon, Canada Eastern Denali Fault surface trace map, eastern Alaska and Yukon, Canada
We map the 385-kilometer (km) long surface trace of the right-lateral, strike-slip Denali Fault between the Totschunda-Denali Fault intersection in Alaska, United States and the village of Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada. In Alaska, digital elevation models based on light detection and ranging and interferometric synthetic aperture radar data enabled our fault mapping at scales of 1:2,000...
Authors
Adrian M. Bender, Peter J. Haeussler
Paleoseismic potential of sublacustrine landslide records in a high-seismicity setting (south-central Alaska) Paleoseismic potential of sublacustrine landslide records in a high-seismicity setting (south-central Alaska)
Sublacustrine landslide stratigraphy is considered useful for quantitative paleoseismology in low-seismicity settings. However, as the recharging of underwater slopes with sediments is one of the factors that governs the recurrence of slope failures, it is not clear if landslide deposits can provide continuous paleoseismic records in settings of frequent strong shaking. To test this, we...
Authors
Nore Praet, Jasper Moernaut, Maarten Van Daele, Evelien Boes, Peter J. Haeussler, Michael Strupler, Sabine Schmidt, Michael G. Loso, Marc De Batist
The Peters Hills basin, a Neogene wedge-top basin on the Broad Pass thrust fault, south-central Alaska The Peters Hills basin, a Neogene wedge-top basin on the Broad Pass thrust fault, south-central Alaska
The Neogene Peters Hills basin is a small terrestrial basin that formed along the south flank of the Alaska Range during a time in which there was regional shortening. The formation of the Peters Hills basin is consistent with it being a wedge-top basin that formed on top of the active southeast-vergent Broad Pass thrust fault. Movement along this thrust raised a ridge of Jurassic and...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Richard W. Saltus, Richard G. Stanley, Natalia Ruppert, Kristen Lewis, Susan M. Karl, Adrian M. Bender
Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological implications Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological implications
The Cenozoic Susitna basin lies within an enigmatic lowland surrounded by the Central Alaska Range, Western Alaska Range (including the Tordrillo Mountains), and Talkeetna Mountains in south-central Alaska. Some previous interpretations show normal faults as the defining structures of the basin (e.g., Kirschner, 1994). However, analysis of new and existing geophysical data shows...
Authors
Richard W. Saltus, Richard G. Stanley, Peter J. Haeussler, James V. Jones, Christopher J. Potter, Kristen A. Lewis
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 25
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 154
Varve formation during the past three centuries in three large proglacial lakes in south-central Alaska Varve formation during the past three centuries in three large proglacial lakes in south-central Alaska
The sediments stored in the large, deep proglacial lakes of south-central Alaska are largely unstudied. We analyzed sediments in 20 cores, up to 160 cm long, from Eklutna, Kenai, and Skilak Lakes, using a combination of repeated lamination counting, radionuclide dating, event stratigraphy, and tephrochronology. We show that the characteristically rhythmic layers were deposited annually...
Authors
Evelin Boes, Maarten Van Daele, Jasper Moernaut, Sabine Schmidt, Britta J.L. Jensen, Nore Praet, Darrell Kaufman, Peter J. Haeussler, Michael G. Loso, Marc De Batist
Neotectonics of interior Alaska and the late Quaternary slip rate along the Denali fault system Neotectonics of interior Alaska and the late Quaternary slip rate along the Denali fault system
The neotectonics of southern Alaska (USA) are characterized by a several hundred kilometers–wide zone of dextral transpressional that spans the Alaska Range. The Denali fault system is the largest active strike-slip fault system in interior Alaska, and it produced a Mw 7.9 earthquake in 2002. To evaluate the late Quaternary slip rate on the Denali fault system, we collected samples for...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Ari Matmon, David P. Schwartz, Gordon G. Seitz
Eastern Denali Fault surface trace map, eastern Alaska and Yukon, Canada Eastern Denali Fault surface trace map, eastern Alaska and Yukon, Canada
We map the 385-kilometer (km) long surface trace of the right-lateral, strike-slip Denali Fault between the Totschunda-Denali Fault intersection in Alaska, United States and the village of Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada. In Alaska, digital elevation models based on light detection and ranging and interferometric synthetic aperture radar data enabled our fault mapping at scales of 1:2,000...
Authors
Adrian M. Bender, Peter J. Haeussler
Paleoseismic potential of sublacustrine landslide records in a high-seismicity setting (south-central Alaska) Paleoseismic potential of sublacustrine landslide records in a high-seismicity setting (south-central Alaska)
Sublacustrine landslide stratigraphy is considered useful for quantitative paleoseismology in low-seismicity settings. However, as the recharging of underwater slopes with sediments is one of the factors that governs the recurrence of slope failures, it is not clear if landslide deposits can provide continuous paleoseismic records in settings of frequent strong shaking. To test this, we...
Authors
Nore Praet, Jasper Moernaut, Maarten Van Daele, Evelien Boes, Peter J. Haeussler, Michael Strupler, Sabine Schmidt, Michael G. Loso, Marc De Batist
The Peters Hills basin, a Neogene wedge-top basin on the Broad Pass thrust fault, south-central Alaska The Peters Hills basin, a Neogene wedge-top basin on the Broad Pass thrust fault, south-central Alaska
The Neogene Peters Hills basin is a small terrestrial basin that formed along the south flank of the Alaska Range during a time in which there was regional shortening. The formation of the Peters Hills basin is consistent with it being a wedge-top basin that formed on top of the active southeast-vergent Broad Pass thrust fault. Movement along this thrust raised a ridge of Jurassic and...
Authors
Peter J. Haeussler, Richard W. Saltus, Richard G. Stanley, Natalia Ruppert, Kristen Lewis, Susan M. Karl, Adrian M. Bender
Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological implications Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological implications
The Cenozoic Susitna basin lies within an enigmatic lowland surrounded by the Central Alaska Range, Western Alaska Range (including the Tordrillo Mountains), and Talkeetna Mountains in south-central Alaska. Some previous interpretations show normal faults as the defining structures of the basin (e.g., Kirschner, 1994). However, analysis of new and existing geophysical data shows...
Authors
Richard W. Saltus, Richard G. Stanley, Peter J. Haeussler, James V. Jones, Christopher J. Potter, Kristen A. Lewis
*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