Historic and paleo-submarine landslide deposits imaged beneath Port Valdez, Alaska: Implications for tsunami generation in a glacial fiord
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
During the 1964 M9.2 great Alaskan earthquake, submarine-slope failures resulted in the generation of highly destructive tsunamis at Port Valdez, Alaska. A high-resolution, mini-sparker reflection profiler was used to image debris lobes, which we attribute to slope failures that occurred both during and prior to the 1964 megathrust event. In these reflection profiles, debris lobe deposits are indicated by acoustically opaque units that are separated by undisturbed parallel-layered reflectors. Near-surface debris lobes attributed to the 1964 earthquake include: (1) a debris lobe over 30 m thick that emanates from the fiord-head delta in eastern Port Valdez; and (2) debris flow lobes incorporating large, intact blocks up to 40 m high in western Port Valdez, off the Shoup Glacier moraine. In addition to the near-surface debris lobes, we imaged at least five additional debris lobe deposits buried beneath the 1964 deposit. The debris lobe directly beneath the 1964 deposit has a similar thickness and spatial distribution as the 1964 deposit. However, the older, deeper, debris lobes are thinner, less extensive, and separated by thinner sequences of parallel-layered reflectors. Glacier retreat and concomitant build-up of the fiord-head delta combined with longer time intervals between megathrust events may have resulted in more extensive delta failures and thus thicker debris lobes through time.
Study Area
Publication type | Book chapter |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
Title | Historic and paleo-submarine landslide deposits imaged beneath Port Valdez, Alaska: Implications for tsunami generation in a glacial fiord |
Series title | Advances in natural and technological hazards research |
DOI | 10.1007/978-90-481-3071-9_34 |
Volume | 28 |
Year Published | 2010 |
Language | English |
Publisher | Springer |
Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Coastal and Marine Geology, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center |
Description | 11 p. |
Larger Work Type | Book |
Larger Work Subtype | Monograph |
Larger Work Title | Submarine mass movements and their consequences |
First page | 411 |
Last page | 421 |
Country | United States |
State | Alaska |
City | Port Valdez |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |