List of earthquakes in Alaska

Last updated

This is an incomplete list of earthquakes in Alaska.

Date MMI Mag. CoordinatesDepthDeathsInjuriesCommentsRef
2021-07-28 VIII8.2 Mw 55°28′26″N157°55′01″W / 55.474°N 157.917°W / 55.474; -157.917 32.2 kmLimited damage / Tsunami [1]
2020-10-19 VII7.6 Mw 54°40′N159°41′W / 54.66°N 159.68°W / 54.66; -159.68 33.3 kmTsunami
2020-07-22 VII7.8 Mw 59°37′N153°20′W / 59.61°N 153.34°W / 59.61; -153.34 28.0 km
2018-11-30 VIII7.1 Mw 61°20′24″N149°56′13″W / 61.340°N 149.937°W / 61.340; -149.937 46.7 km117Road Damage [2]
2018-01-23 IV7.9 Mw 56°03′29″N149°05′49″W / 56.058°N 149.097°W / 56.058; -149.097 10 km [3]
2016-01-24 VII7.1 Mw 59°37′N153°20′W / 59.61°N 153.34°W / 59.61; -153.34 127.8 km
2014-06-23 VI7.9 Mw 51°48′N178°46′W / 51.80°N 178.76°W / 51.80; -178.76 107.5 kmTsunami
2002-11-03 IX7.9 Mw 63°31′N147°36′W / 63.51°N 147.6°W / 63.51; -147.6 13 km1
1986-05-07VI8.0 Mw 51°31′N174°47′E / 51.52°N 174.78°E / 51.52; 174.78 19 kmModerate damage / tsunami [4]
1975-02-02 IX7.6 Ms 53°07′N173°30′E / 53.11°N 173.50°E / 53.11; 173.50 10 km15
1965-02-03 VI8.7 Mw 51°17′N178°33′W / 51.29°N 178.55°W / 51.29; -178.55 36 kmTsunami
1964-03-27 XI9.2 Mw 61°02′N147°44′W / 61.04°N 147.73°W / 61.04; -147.73 23 km139Tsunami
1958-07-10 XI7.8 Mw 58°22′N136°40′W / 58.37°N 136.67°W / 58.37; -136.67 35 km5Megatsunami
1958-04-07 VIII7.3 Mw 65°54′54″N156°20′35″W / 65.915°N 156.343°W / 65.915; -156.343 7 kmDamage to towns
1957-03-09 VIII8.6 Mw 51°30′N175°38′W / 51.5°N 175.63°W / 51.5; -175.63 25 kmTsunami
1946-04-01 VI8.6 Mw 53°29′N162°50′W / 53.49°N 162.83°W / 53.49; -162.83 15 km165–173Tsunami
1938-10-10VII8.2 Mw 55°10′41″N158°10′52″E / 55.178°N 158.181°E / 55.178; 158.181 35 km [5]
1906-08-17 8.35 Mw 50°36′N178°22′E / 50.6°N 178.36°E / 50.6; 178.36
1899-09-10 8.0 Mw - 8.4 Ms 60°00′N140°00′W / 60.0°N 140.0°W / 60.0; -140.0 47 feet (14 metres) uplift [6] [7]
1899-09-03 8.2 Mw - 8.5 Ms 60°00′N140°00′W / 60.0°N 140.0°W / 60.0; -140.0 [7]
1585-06-11 9.25 MwAleutian IslandsUnknownNatives killed by a tsunami in Hawaii.
Note: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand-alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events and those of scientific interest should be recorded.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lists of earthquakes</span>

Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from weak events detectable only by seismometers, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities, and number of scientific studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake</span> Earthquake near the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake occurred near the Aleutian Islands, Alaska on April 1, 1946. The shock measured 8.6, Mt 9.3 or 7.4. It had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). It resulted in 165–173 casualties and over US$26 million in damage. The seafloor along the fault was elevated, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami with multiple destructive waves at heights ranging from 45–138 ft (14–42 m). The tsunami obliterated the Scotch Cap Lighthouse on Unimak Island, Alaska among others, and killed all five lighthouse keepers. Despite the destruction to the Aleutian Island Unimak, the tsunami had almost an imperceptible effect on the Alaskan mainland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Denali earthquake</span> 7.9 magnitude; November 3, 2002

The 2002 Denali earthquake occurred at 22:12:41 UTC November 3 with an epicenter 66 km ESE of Denali National Park, Alaska, United States. This 7.9 Mw earthquake was the largest recorded in the United States in 37 years. The shock was the strongest ever recorded in the interior of Alaska. Due to the remote location, there were no fatalities and only one injury.

The 1995 Antofagasta earthquake occurred on July 30 at 05:11 UTC with a moment magnitude of 8.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII. The Antofagasta Region in Chile was affected by a moderate tsunami, with three people killed, 58 or 59 injured, and around 600 homeless. Total damage from the earthquake and tsunami amounted to $1.791 million.

The Brawley Seismic Zone (BSZ), also known as the Brawley fault zone, is a predominantly extensional tectonic zone that connects the southern terminus of the San Andreas Fault with the Imperial Fault in Southern California. The BSZ is named for the nearby town of Brawley in Imperial County, California, and the seismicity there is characterized by earthquake swarms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Oklahoma earthquake</span> 2011 earthquake near Prague, Oklahoma

The 2011 Oklahoma earthquake was a 5.7 magnitude intraplate earthquake which occurred near Prague, Oklahoma on November 5 at 10:53 p.m. CDT in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the vicinity of several active wastewater injection wells. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Oklahoma until the 2016 Oklahoma earthquake. The previous record was a 5.5 magnitude earthquake that struck near the town of El Reno in 1952. The quake's epicenter was approximately 44 miles (71 km) east-northeast of Oklahoma City, near the town of Sparks and was felt in the neighboring states of Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri and even as far away as Tennessee and Wisconsin. The quake followed several minor quakes earlier in the day, including a 4.7 magnitude foreshock. The quake had a maximum perceived intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale in the area closest to the epicenter. Numerous aftershocks were detected after the main quake, with a few registering at 4.0 magnitude.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1975 Hawaii earthquake</span> Earthquake in Hawaii, United States

The 1975 Hawaii earthquake occurred on November 29 with a moment magnitude of 7.7 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The shock affected several of the Hawaiian Islands and resulted in the deaths of two people and up to 28 injured. Significant damage occurred in the southern part of the Big Island totalling $4–4.1 million, and it also triggered a small brief eruption of Kilauea volcano.

The Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) is a collaboration of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and regional, state, and academic partners that collects and analyzes data on significant earthquakes to provide near real-time information to emergency responders and officials, the news media, and the public. Such information is used to anticipate the likely severity and extent of damage, and to guide decisions on the responses needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Craig, Alaska earthquake</span> Earthquake in Alaska and British Columbia

The 2013 Craig, Alaska earthquake struck on January 5, at 12:58 am (UTC–7) near the city of Craig and Hydaburg, on Prince of Wales Island. The Mw 7.5 earthquake came nearly three months after an Mw  7.8 quake struck Haida Gwaii on October 28, in 2012. The quake prompted a regional tsunami warning to British Columbia and Alaska, but it was later cancelled. Due to the remote location of the quake, there were no reports of casualties or damage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Chignik earthquake</span> 7th largest earthquake in the US

An earthquake occurred off the coast of the Alaska Peninsula on July 28, 2021, at 10:15 p.m. local time. The large megathrust earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.2 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A tsunami warning was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but later cancelled. The mainshock was followed by a number of aftershocks, including three that were of magnitude 5.9, 6.1 and 6.9 respectively.

The 2021 South Sandwich Islands earthquakes were a pair of powerful earthquakes, followed by many strong aftershocks which struck along the South Sandwich Trench in August 2021. The quakes measured 7.5 and 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale, according to the United States Geological Survey. The mainshock is tied with another event in 1929 as the largest earthquake ever recorded in the South Atlantic region, and is tied with the 2021 Kermadec Islands earthquake as the second largest earthquake of 2021.

The 1979 Saint Elias earthquake affected Alaska at 12:27 AKST on 28 February. The thrust-faulting Mw 7.5 earthquake had an epicenter in the Granite Mountains. Though the maximum recorded Modified Mercalli intensity was VII, damage was minimal and there were no casualties due to the remoteness of the faulting. Damage also extended across the border in parts of Yukon, Canada.

References

  1. "USGS Earthquake".
  2. "M 7.1 - 14 km NNW of Anchorage, Alaska". United States Geological Survey. November 30, 2018.
  3. "M 7.9 - 280 km SE of Kodiak, Alaska". United States Geological Survey. January 23, 2018.
  4. National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS) (1972), Significant Earthquake Database (Data Set), National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
  5. "USGS Earthquake".
  6. Page, RA; Biswas, NN; Lahr, JC; Pulpan, H (1991) Seismicity of continental Alaska. In: Slemmons, DB; Engdahl, ER; Zoback, MD; Blackwell, DD (eds.). Neotectonics of North America (PDF). Boulder, Colorado: Geological Society of America.
  7. 1 2 McCann, William (1980). "Yakataga gap, Alaska: Seismic history and earthquake potential". Science. 207 (4437): 1309–1314. Bibcode:1980Sci...207.1309M. doi:10.1126/science.207.4437.1309. JSTOR   1683431. S2CID   128624810 . Retrieved 3 July 2022.