The Alaska Good Friday Earthquake of 1964,

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA113800 | Open PDF

Abstract:

On 27 March 1964 a major earthquake struck Southern Alaska. The city of Anchorage, which contained a large part of Alaskas population, suffered loss of life and destruction of property. The time of the day, the season, and ground conditions were such that loss of life and property was minimized. The frozen ground and the ice on fresh waster bodies responded to the earthquake shocks in a seldom-observable pattern, which was noted and recorded. Changes of sea level and slides into the sea were responsible for waterfront destruction. It is concluded that the main factor that limited structural damage was the frozen state of the ground. Author

Author(s):
Swinzow, George K.
Author Organization(s):
COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
Pagination:
0034

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
CRREL-82-1
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_6_Net Centric
Communities of Interest:
Ground and Sea Platforms
Descriptor(s):
*EARTHQUAKES, *EARTH MOVEMENTS, ALASKA, COASTAL REGIONS, SOILS, FREEZING, FROST, ICE, STRUCTURES, DAMAGE, MOUNTAINS, OCEAN WAVES
Field(s)/Group(s):
Geology, Geochemistry and Mineralogy, Seismology, Snow, Ice and Permafrost
Keyword(s):
*Alaskan earthquake 1964, Frozen soils
Report Date:
1982 Feb 01