Effects of the March 1964 Alaska earthquake on glaciers
Professional Paper
544-D
By: Austin Post
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Abstract
The 1964 Alaska earthquake occurred in a region where there are many hundreds of glaciers, large and small. Aerial photographic investigations indicate that no snow and ice avalanches of large size occurred on glaciers despite the violent shaking. Rockslide avalanches extended onto the glaciers in many localities, seven very large ones occurring in the Copper River region 160 kilometers east of the epicenter. Some of these avalanches traveled several kilometers at low gradients; compressed air may have provided a lubricating layer. If long-term changes in glaciers due to tectonic changes in altitude and slope occur, they will probably be very small. No evidence of large-scale dynamic response of any glacier to earthquake shaking or avalanche loading was found in either the Chugach or Kenai Mountains 16 months after the 1964 earthquake, nor was there any evidence of surges (rapid advances) as postulated by the Earthquake-Advance Theory of Tarr and Martin.
Suggested Citation
Post, A., 1967, Effects of the March 1964 Alaska earthquake on glaciers: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 544, vi, 42 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp544D.
ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Effects of the March 1964 Alaska earthquake on glaciers |
| Series title | Professional Paper |
| Series number | 544 |
| Chapter | D |
| DOI | 10.3133/pp544D |
| Year Published | 1967 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Government Printing Office |
| Publisher location | Washington, DC |
| Contributing office(s) | Menlo ParkCalif. Office-Earthquake Science Center |
| Description | vi, 42 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Report |
| Larger Work Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Larger Work Title | The Alaska earthquake, March 27, 1964: Effects on the hydrologic regimen (Professional Paper 544) |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Other Geospatial | Alaska Range |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |