United States Earthquakes, 1968 Open-File Report 84-968 Prepared in Cooperation with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY United States Earthquakes, 1968 By Jerry L. Coffman and William K, Cloud Open-File report 84-968 Prepared in cooperation with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, This report has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards. 1984 Contents Page Introduction __________________________________ 1 Earthquake information services ______________________ 1 Epicenter maps __________________________________________ 3 Teleseismic results ________________________________________ 3 Strong-motion seismograph network __________________________ 6 Magnitude and intensity ratings ______________________________ 6 Modified Mercalli intensity scale of 1931 ________________ 6 Earthquake history ____________________________ 7 Seismic risk map _________________________________________ 8 Summary of Earthquake Reports _______________________ 13 Earthquake activity in the various states _____________________ 13 Earthquake activity outside the United States ______________ 14 Northeastern region ______________________________ 14 Eastern region _____________________________ 14 Central region _________________________________________ 15 Western mountain region ____________________________________ 29 California and western Nevada ______________________ 31 Washington and Oregon _________________________ 52 Alaska _________________________________ 54 Hawaii __________________________________ 59 Panama Canal Zone ________________________________ 62 Puerto Rico __________________________________ 62 Virgin Islands ________________________________ 62 Principal Earthquakes of the World During 1968 _________ ___ 63 Seismological Observatories _____.._____________________ 69 Miscellaneous Activities ______________________________ 71 Geodetic work of seismological interest _________________ 71 Tsunamis ______________________________ 72 Fluctuations in Well-Water Levels _____________________ 75 Strong-Motion Seismograph Results _____________________________ 83 Interpretation of records ___________________________________ 85 Units and instrumental constants ___________________ 85 Seismogram illustrations ________________________ 85 Additions and Corrections to Previous Issues _____________________ 111 iii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Fluctuations in well-water levels during 1968 _______________ 76 2 Earthquakes of 1968 believed to have caused fluctuations in well-water levels _______________________________________ 82 3 List of shocks recorded and records obtained on strong-motion instru ments in 1968 ___________________________________ 88 4 Summary of outstanding instrumental and noninstrumental data for 1968 92 5 Composite of strong-motion instrumental data for 1968 _________ 93 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1 Damaging earthquakes in the United States through 1968 _______ 4 2 Seismic risk map for conterminous United States _______________ 9 3 United States earthquake epicenters for 1968 __________________ 12 4 Area affected by Illinois earthquake of November 9 _______________ 16 5 Epicentral area of Illinois earthquake of November 9 ____________ 17 6 Area affected by southern California earthquake of April 8 ______ 33 7 Area affected by northern California earthquake of April 25 ______ 43 8 Area affected by northern California earthquake of June 25 ______ 46 9 Area affected by southern California earthquake of July 4 _______ 49 10 Area affected by central Alaska earthquake of October 29 ______ 57 11 Ground fissure in runway of Dry Lake Airport, near Rampart _____ 58 12 Damage in Gibellina, Sicily, as result of-the January 15 earthquake _ 64 13 Earthquake damage to typical domed roof dwelling in the Dasht-e Bayaz, Iran, region as result of August 31 earthquake __________ 66 14 Seismological observatories for which the National Earthquake Informa tion Center (C&GS) publishes results ___________________ 68 15 Strong-motion stations in the United States and Central and South America _________________________________ 84 16 Tracing of accelerograph record obtained at El Centre, Calif., April 8_ 86 17 Tracing of Carder Displacement Meter record obtained at El Centro, Calif., April 8 __________________________________ 87 IV Introduction United States Earthquakes, the annual surrounding areas. This is achieved report of the National Earthquake Infor through intensive regional investigations in mation Center, was first issued in 1928 and various states by local organizations and has been published each year since that the Coast and Geodetic Survey. This infor time. Although its principal objective is1 mation is used to map the seismic areas to describe briefly, earthquakes in the of the country (see Seismic Risk Map, United States for the calendar year, the page 9), thereby promoting public safety report also summarizes shocks occurring in through a better understanding of earth or near the Panama Canal Zone, Puerto quake phenomena. Since the success of Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional the general information service depends ly, it contains a list and short description largely on the cooperation of local officials of principal earthquakes of the world for and citizens, all who receive earthquake the year. questionnaire forms requesting information The sources of noninstrumental infor on specific shocks are urged to complete mation used in the compilation include and return the forms to the office indi the U.S. Weather Bureau, whose observers cated. prepare periodic reports on local seismic activity; telegraphic information collected EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION by Science Service, Washington, B.C.; bul SERVICES letins of the Seismological Society of Amer ica; special reports of various institutions; In August 1966, the National Earthquake newspaper clippings; and reports from in Information Center (NEIC) was estab terested individuals. lished at the Coast and Geodetic Survey Instrumental data utilized in the loca Headquarters, Rockville, Md. This Center tion of earthquakes are obtained from the is a focal point for the dissemination of seismological observatories listed on page seismic information, both immediate and 69, and from cooperating seismograph sta historical, for technical and public users. tions throughout the world. Instrumental The first new service from the Center locations are issued in the Preliminary was an expanded earthquake reporting Determination of Epicenters report (see system that provides accurate and rapid Teleseismic Results, page 3). Refined hypocenter locations and magnitude values epicenters are later published in the to the press and other interested parties. monthly Seismological Bulletin. These results are available within 2 to 3 The Coast and Geodetic Survey endeav hours for earthquakes of magnitude 6i/£ ors to coordinate efforts in collecting all or larger, with smaller events treated on types of earthquake information, with the request or on receipt of a press report. special objective of correlating instrumental The global facilities of the Coast and earthquake locations with noninstrumental Geodetic Survey, its seismograph stations, reports received from the epicentral and and cooperating observatories, are used to 1 United States Earthquakes, 1968 provide the information for the earthquake and felt area are enumerated in the reporting system. When a large earthquake quarterly Abstracts of Earthquake Reports occurs, the participating observatories tele for the United States. Active cooperation in phone or telegraph their observations to the this work is received from the University National Meteorological Center at Suit- of California Seismographic Station at land, Md. This information is relayed to Berkeley, the Seismological Laboratory at a duty seismologist at the NEIC who lo Pasadena, and from state collaborators in cates the epicenter graphically on a large seismology. The following collaborators world globe and scales the magnitude. This served as agents of the Coast and Geodetic information, together with background Survey in their respective states during and explanatory comments for non- 1968: seismologists, is released via Weather Arizona. Dr. Richard T. Moore, Uni Bureau circuits and directly to news media. versity of Arizona, Tucson. The Center serves as a focal point for Colorado. Prof. W. Warren Longley, numerous additional seismological services University of Colorado, Boulder. provided by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Montana. Prof. Stephen W. Nile, Mon including preparation of seismic histories tana School of Mines, Butte. for engineers, actuaries, and scientists, and Nevada. Dr. David B. Slemmons, Uni answering direct inquiries from various versity of Nevada, Reno. groups and individuals desiring earthquake information. New Mexico. Prof. Stuart A. Northrop, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. This Center also publishes a bimonthly Earthquake Information Bulletin to in Oregon. Dr. Peter Dehlinger, Oregon State University, Corvallis. form the public of past and continuing studies in this field, and of techniques used Utah. Prof. J. Stewart Williams, Utah in the investigation and description of State University, Logan. earthquakes and related phenomena. Washington. Prof. Howard A. Coombs, Through this Bulletin the Center attempts University of Washington, Seattle. to bridge the long-existing gap between the Among the commercial agencies on the technical report of the seismologist and the West Coast rendering valuable services are need of the layman for earth science in telephone, power, oil,