SOURCE MECHANISM STUDY OF THE ALASKA EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI OF 27 MARCH 1964. PART I. WATER WAVES. PART II. ANALYSIS OF RAYLEIGH WAVE,
Abstract
The geologic history and a short description of the general geomorphology of the area affected by the 27 March 1964 Alaska earthquake are given. The extent of crustal displacement and the limits of the areas of subsidence and uplift as revealed by geologic evidence are discussed, as well as the method by which the tsunamigenerating area was determined. The dimensions of this tsunami-generating area, its volume of crustal displacement, and the energy associated with the tsunami are calculated. There follows a short discussion on wave activity within and outside the generating area, and the possible generating mechanisms for the tsunami. Included as an appendix are two wave refraction diagrams of the Alaska tsunami drawn for the north Pacific Ocean area. The source mechanism of the Alaska Earthquake of 27 Mar 1964 was investigated by analyzing the Rayleigh wave recorded on the strain seismograph at Kipapa Station, Hawaii. The parameters that gave the best fit to the observed data were: rupture length of 800 km, rupture velocity of 3 km/sec, and direction of rupture line of S30 deg W. The results of this analysis compared favorably with field data of elevation changes, with distribution of epicenters of aftershocks, and with the area of generation of the tsunami as obtained from sea wave refraction diagrams. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0629857
Entities
People
- Augustine Furumoto
- George Pararas-carayannis