The U. S. Geological Survey
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THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Ut AL"SI<" PROGRAMS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 804-A a-3 Anchorage Daily News Saturday June 2, 1979 metro I state Scientists predict major Alaska quake By LAURIE MCGINLEY "The pipeline and other oil-contain States Geological Survey (USGS) more to the threshold of an ex Our Washington bureau ing structures should be able to and university scientists. tremely large earthquake like the WASHJNGTON - Alaska's next withstand 8.5." The strain has built up along the 1964 Good Friday quake in Anchor large and potentially destructive Akin admits that damage could fault as two large plates - or age. That earthquake measured 8.5 earthquake is likely to occur within occur due to a major quake, but chunks - of the earth's surface on the Richter scale. the next two to four decades in the said "it wouldn 'I fracture the line converge and collide with each • Strains throughout the area southern Yakataga region, govern or cause any major spill." other. The plates have been pres may be released through a series of ment and Colwnbia University sci Yet a quake in the area, which suring each other at a rate of two smaller earthquakes. entists predicted Friday. is located so close to Valdez, could inches per year, the USGS said. The Cape Yakataga region, well damage Valdez. According USGS Director William Menard A quake in February with a magnitude of 7. 7 relieved only part about 150 miles southeast of Valdez to Professor Neil Davis of the said it was impossible to pinpoint of the strain, the USGS said. The on the Gull of Alaska, probably will University of Alaska's Geophysical precisely when the quake will take earthquake indicated the high level be hit by an earthquake measuring Institute, a tsunami, or sea wave, place, but predicted it could occur eight or more on the Richter scale, could be generated if the quake anytime and is most likely within of Wlrelieved tension in the area, according to experts. Damaging was located off-shore. the next 20 to 40 yt'ars. according to the scientist'l. tremors could affect a 30,000 Akin, however, said that the The area has been targeted for The Yakataga region was first square mile area. wave that destroyed Valdez in the special study by the USGS and the identified as a seismic gap a dec The scientists say an earthquake 1964 quake was caused by a mud ~ tOO ';' ''~~ Lamont-Doherty Geological Ob ade ago by Lamont scientists. is likely because the region lies on slide near to town, and that proba servatory of Colwnbia University. a !SO-mile-long, 100-mile-wide bly a much larger quake than that Menard said such a study would be "seismic gap" - an area along a of 1964 would be required to gener This map released by the U.S. Geological survey office useful in ''predicting when and major fault where no strain-reliev ate another serious wave. shows the area in which a major earthquake is expected in where quakes will occur in Alaska ing quakes have taken place in What about damage to Anchor the next few decades. and elsewhere." recent years. age? "It would depend upon both Besides a major quake at Yaka Government scientists said they the quake's depth and location," taga, the scientists said there were are studying whether an earth said Davis, "but it could be poten a series of smaller quakes, or by a Anchorage was hit by a disasterous three other less likely possibilities quake at Yakataga would threaten tially damaging." process known as creeping, where earthquake in 1964 which measured for relieving the tension: the oil pipeline facilities at Valdez. Yet Davis said that a major the rock would bend but no quake 8.5 on the Richter scale. • A slow fault creep could take "The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is earthquake is not the only way to would occur. Since 1899, when the last large place, eliminating a significant designed to withstand an earth relieve the stress building up in the However, it is considered Wllike earthquake occurred at Yakataga, part of the strain. quake of 8.5 on the Richter Scale," Cape Yakataga region. 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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 1979 PROGRAMS Edited by Katherine M. Reed Office of the Director Anchorage, Alaska Technical assistance by Robert F. Gilmore Linda- Lee Harris Lisa D. Tennison GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 804-A 1979 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY H. WILLIAM MENARD, Director r·ree on djlplic.ltion to br<~nch of Distribution, U.S. Geolouical Survey, 1200 South Eads Street, Arlington, VA Ui!UZ and Public Inquiries Office, SOH Second Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 CONTENTS Page THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN ALASKA . • . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 1 1979- The Centennial Year................................................................ 1 Organization of the Geological Survey..................................................... 3 OFFICE OF NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE IN ALASKA • . • • • • • . • . • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • . • • • • • . 5 Projects of the Office of National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska............................ 6 LAND INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS OFFICE • • . • . • • • • . • • • . • . • . • • • . • • • . • . • • • • . • • • . • • • . • • . • • 11 EROS program.............................................................................. 11 Geography program......................................................................... 11 Projects of the Land Information and Analysis Office...................................... 12 Northern reqion...................................................................... 12 TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING , • • • • • • • • • • •