The 1964 Alaska earthquake resulted from rupture along the thrust fault boundary bet- ween the downgoing Pacific Plate and the overriding North American Plate, causing widespread shaking and tectonic defor- mation. The earthquake was felt throughout much of mainland Alaska.
What was the impact of the Prince William Sound 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.
How many people died in the Prince William Sound tsunami?
122 people
Overall, the earthquake, the local tsunamis in Prince William Sound, and the tsunami generated in the Gulf of Alaska, were responsible for taking the lives of 122 people and causing more than $106 million in damage (1964 dollars) – making this disaster the costliest ever to strike Alaska, the Western United States, and …
When did the 1964 earthquake happen?
March 27, 1964
1964 Alaska earthquake/Start dates
On March 27, 1964, at 5:36 p.m. (03:36 3/28 UTC), a great earthquake of magnitude 9.2 (moment magnitude) occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. The epicenter was about 10 km east of the mouth of College Fiord, approximately 90 km west of Valdez and 120 km east of Anchorage.
What happened in the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
On March 27, 1964, at 5:36 p.m. AKST (3:36 a.m. UTC), a fault between the Pacific and North American plates ruptured near College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The Alaska earthquake was a subduction zone (megathrust) earthquake, caused by an oceanic plate sinking under a continental plate.
What type of earthquake was the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
The Alaska earthquake was a subduction zone (megathrust) earthquake, caused by an oceanic plate sinking under a continental plate.
Did the Prince William Sound earthquake cause a tsunami?
On March 28, 1964, at 03:28 GMT, an earthquake occurred in Prince William Sound of Alaska triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami. The earthquake had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.4, an epicenter of 61.1° N, 147.5° W, and a depth of 23 km.
What is the strongest earthquake?
Valdivia Earthquake
Science Center Objects
| Mag | Alternative Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9.5 | Valdivia Earthquake |
| 2. | 9.2 | 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, Prince William Sound Earthquake, Good Friday Earthquake |
| 3. | 9.1 | Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake, 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami, Indian Ocean Earthquake |
| 4. | 9.1 | Tohoku Earthquake |
What was the name of the earthquake in Alaska in 1964?
The Great M9.2 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami of March 27, 1964. Map of southern Alaska showing the epicenter of the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake (red star). Click to view a larger image. On March 27, 1964 at 5:36pm local time (March 28 at 3:36 UTC) a great earthquake of magnitude 9.2 occurred in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska.
What happened in Alaska in 1964?
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.
Why was the 1964 San Francisco 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.” During the earthquake, it’s estimated the fault slipped between 30 to 60 feet, an immense shift.
Where is the epicenter of the 2010 Alaska earthquake?
UTC), a fault between the Pacific and North American plates ruptured near College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The epicenter of the earthquake was 12.4 mi (20 km) north of Prince William Sound, 78 miles (125 km) east of Anchorage and 40 miles (64 km) west of Valdez.
