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The Alaska earthquake, March 27, 1964: effects on transportation, communications, and utilities
This is the forth in a series of six reports that the U.S. Geological Survey published on the results of a comprehensive geologic study that began, as a reconnaissance survey, within 24 hours after the March 27, 1964, Magnitude 9.2 Great Alaska Earthquake and extended, as detailed investigations, through several field seasons. The 1964 Great Alaska earthquake was the largest earthquake in the U.S.
Authors
Malcolm H. Logan, Lynn R. Burton, Edwin B. Eckel, Reuben Kachadoorian, David S. McCulloch, Manuel G. Bonilla
Geomagnetic polarity epochs: Nunivak Island, Alaska
New paleomagnetic and potassium-argon dating measurements have been made of basalt flows from Nunivak Island, Alaska, with the following results. (1) The best estimate of the age of the Brunhes/Matuyama polarity epoch boundary is found to be 0.694 m.y. (2) The best estimate of the age of the Gauss/Gilbert boundary is 3.32 m.y. (3) Three normally magnetized flows with ages from 0.93 to 0.88 m.y. ar
Authors
A. Cox, G. B. Dalrymple
Geomagnetic polarity zones for icelandic lavas
Analysis of cores collected from a sequence of lavas in Eastern Iceland has made possible an accurate calculation of the average rate of reversal of the Earth's magnetic field.
Authors
P. Dagley, R.L. Wilson, J. M. Ade-Hall, G.P.L. Walker, S.E. Haggerty, T. Sigurgeirsson, N.D. Watkins, P.J. Smith, J. Edwards, R.L. Grasty
Geomagnetic polarity epochs: new data from Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika
The lower lava flow of Bed I in Olduvai Gorge, Tanganyika, carries natural remanent magnetization (NRM) having normal polarity. Thermal demagnetization experiments demonstrate the stability of this NRM. Thus the Olduvai geomagnetic polarity event, which was originally named from the upper lava flow in Bed I, is represented in its type locality by two normally magnetized lavas. These lavas have bee
Authors
C. S. Grommé, R. L. Hay
Pliocene geomagnetic polarity epochs
A paleomagnetic and K-Ar dating study of 44 upper Miocene and Pliocene volcanic units from the western United States suggests that the frequency of reversals of the earth's magnetic field during Pliocene time may have been comparable with that of the last 3.6 m.y. Although the data are too limited to permit the formal naming of any new polarity epochs or events, four polarity transitions have been
Authors
G. B. Dalrymple, A. Cox, Richard R. Doell, C. S. Grommé
Historic surface faulting in continental United States and adjacent parts of Mexico
This report summarizes geometric aspects of approximately 35 instances of historic faulting of the ground surface in the continental United States and adjacent parts of Mexico. This information is of immediate importance in the selection and evaluation of sites for vital structures such as nuclear power plants. The data are presented in a table and graphs which show the quantitative relations betw
Authors
M. G. Bonilla
Surface faults on Montague Island associated with the 1964 Alaska earthquake
Two reverse faults on southwestern Montague Island in Prince William Sound were reactivated during the earthquake of March 27, 1964. New fault scarps, fissures, cracks, and flexures appeared in bedrock and unconsolidated surficial deposits along or near the fault traces. Average strike of the faults is between N. 37° E. and N. 47° E.; they dip northwest at angles ranging from 50° to 85°. The domin
Authors
George Plafter
Effects of the earthquake of March 27, 1964, on air and water transport, communications, and utilities systems in south-central Alaska
The earthquake of March 27, 1964, wrecked or severely hampered all forms of transportation, all utilities, and all communications systems over a very large part of south-central Alaska. Effects on air transportation were minor as compared to those on the water, highway, and railroad transport systems. A few planes were damaged or wrecked by seismic vibration or by flooding. Numerous airport facili
Authors
Edwin B. Eckel
The Parkfield-Cholame, California, earthquakes of June-August, 1966; instrumental seismic studies
U.S. Geological Survey instrumental seismic studies in the Parkfield-Cholame area consist of three related parts that were undertaken as pilot studies in a program designed to develop improved tools and concepts for investigating the properties and behavior of the San Andreas fault. These studies include: 1. The long=term monitoring of the seismic background on the San Andreas fault in Cholame Val
Authors
Jerry P. Eaton
Effects of the earthquake of March 27, 1964 on the communities of Kodiak and nearby islands
The great earthquake (Richter magnitude of 8.4–8.5) that struck south-central Alaska at 5:36 p.m., Alaska standard time, on March 27, 1964 (03:36, March 28, Greenwich mean time), was felt in every community on Kodiak Island and the nearby islands. It was the most severe earthquake to strike this part of Alaska in modern time, and took the lives of 18 persons in the area by drowning; this includes
Authors
Reuben Kachadoorian, George Plafker
Effects of the earthquake of March 27, 1964, at Seward, Alaska
Seward, in south-central Alaska, was one of the towns most devastated by the Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964. The greater part of Seward is built on an alluvial fan-delta near the head of Resurrection Bay on the southeast coast of the Kenai Peninsula. It is one of the few ports in south-central Alaska that is ice free all year, and the town’s economy is almost entirely dependent upon its port
Authors
Richard W. Lemke
Ground breakage and associated effects in the Cook Inlet area, Alaska, resulting from the March 27, 1964, earthquake
The great 1964 Alaska earthquake caused considerable ground breakage in the Cook Inlet area of south-central Alaska. The breakage occurred largely in thick deposits of unconsolidated sediments. The most important types of ground breakage were (1) fracturing or cracking and the extrusion of sand and gravel with ground water along fractures in various types of landforms, and (2) slumping and lateral
Authors
Helen L. Foster, Thor N. V. Karlstrom