Open AccessTsunami hazards to U.S. coasts from giant earthquakes in Alaska
Author(s) -
Ryan Holly,
Huene Roland,
Scholl Dave,
Kirby Steve
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2012eo190001
Subject(s) - geology , seismology , seismometer , shore , subduction , tsunami earthquake , oceanography , pacific ocean , tectonics
In the aftermath of Japan's devastating 11 March 2011 M w 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, scientists are considering whether and how a similar tsunami could be generated along the Alaskan‐Aleutian subduction zone (AASZ). A tsunami triggered by an earthquake along the AASZ would cross the Pacific Ocean and cause extensive damage along highly populated U.S. coasts, with ports being particularly vulnerable. For example, a tsunami in 1946 generated by a M w 8.6 earthquake near Unimak Pass, Alaska (Figure 1a), caused signifcant damage along the U.S. West Coast, took 150 lives in Hawaii, and inundated shorelines of South Pacific islands and Antarctica [ Fryer et al. , 2004; Lopez and Okal , 2006]. The 1946 tsunami occurred before modern broadband seismometers were in place, and the mechanisms that created it remain poorly understood.