1964 Alaska earthquake
Part 1: 1964 Alaska earthquake
http://www.iris.edu/hq/files/programs/education_and_outreach/aotm/31/Alaska1964EarthquakeCauses.mp4
A lot of excellent information is packed into this short video.
1. How many minutes did the shaking last?
The shaking lasted 4.5 minutes.
2. What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
The magnitude of the earthquake was 9.2.
3. This earthquake occurred just as geologists were figuring out plate tectonics. What principle of plate tectonics did the earthquake confirm?
It confirmed the major principle of plate tectonics: the Oceanic Pacific Plate dives beneath the North American Continental Plate.
4. How many earthquakes does Alaska have per year?
Alaska has on average 24,000 earthquakes per year.
5. How many magnitude 7 earthquakes might you expect there in a year?
On average about 8 earthquakes M7 occur every year.
6. How much more energy is in a magnitude 6 than a magnitude 5?
The energy released increases by a factor of 30x for each unit increase in magnitude.
How much more energy is in a magnitude 7 than a magnitude 5?
900
How much more energy is in a magnitude 8 than a magnitude 5?
27,000
How much more energy is in a magnitude 9 than a magnitude 5?
810,000
7. How do the magnitudes of the 1964 Alaska earthquake compare to that of the 2011 Japan earthquake?
Earthquake in Japan was M9, and Alaskan was even larger at M9.2, which is the 2nd largest earthquake ever recorded.
8. What is the Aleutian trench?
Aleutian trench - is a 2,100 mi subduction boundary between the Northern and the Pacific plates.
9. What tectonic boundary is this similar to?
Nazca Plate diving beneath the South American Plate at the Peru-Chili Trench is similar to Aleutian trench.
10. What two strike-slip tectonic boundaries do they compare?
South East Alaska and Western British Columbia strike-slip is compared to San-Andreas boundary in California.
11. What is another name for
http://www.iris.edu/hq/files/programs/education_and_outreach/aotm/31/Alaska1964EarthquakeCauses.mp4
A lot of excellent information is packed into this short video.
1. How many minutes did the shaking last?
The shaking lasted 4.5 minutes.
2. What was the magnitude of the earthquake?
The magnitude of the earthquake was 9.2.
3. This earthquake occurred just as geologists were figuring out plate tectonics. What principle of plate tectonics did the earthquake confirm?
It confirmed the major principle of plate tectonics: the Oceanic Pacific Plate dives beneath the North American Continental Plate.
4. How many earthquakes does Alaska have per year?
Alaska has on average 24,000 earthquakes per year.
5. How many magnitude 7 earthquakes might you expect there in a year?
On average about 8 earthquakes M7 occur every year.
6. How much more energy is in a magnitude 6 than a magnitude 5?
The energy released increases by a factor of 30x for each unit increase in magnitude.
How much more energy is in a magnitude 7 than a magnitude 5?
900
How much more energy is in a magnitude 8 than a magnitude 5?
27,000
How much more energy is in a magnitude 9 than a magnitude 5?
810,000
7. How do the magnitudes of the 1964 Alaska earthquake compare to that of the 2011 Japan earthquake?
Earthquake in Japan was M9, and Alaskan was even larger at M9.2, which is the 2nd largest earthquake ever recorded.
8. What is the Aleutian trench?
Aleutian trench - is a 2,100 mi subduction boundary between the Northern and the Pacific plates.
9. What tectonic boundary is this similar to?
Nazca Plate diving beneath the South American Plate at the Peru-Chili Trench is similar to Aleutian trench.
10. What two strike-slip tectonic boundaries do they compare?
South East Alaska and Western British Columbia strike-slip is compared to San-Andreas boundary in California.
11. What is another name for