A seismological reassessment of the source of the 1946 Aleutian ‘tsunami’ earthquake

López, Alberto M.; Okal, Emile A.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-246x.2006.02899.x

Cited by 113 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…However, since the main evidence for the 1788 earthquake is derived from the tsunami that it generated, the tsunami could have been caused by a local event such as a landslide or offset along an upper plate splay fault and not necessarily by the rupture of an M>8 earthquake on the megathrust (Savage and Lisowski, 1986). Although the mechanism for generating the tsunami in the 1946 earthquake is still not fully resolved, the earthquake is considered to have been a slow "tsunami" earthquake that ruptured the updip portion of the megathrust (Lopez and Okal, 2006). The updip portion of the megathrust is generally not well resolved using GPS data, and thus there could be a locked portion of the megathrust near the trench.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus the tsunami that was generated was much larger than expected from the surface-wave magnitude alone (M s 7.4), which is based on the higher frequency components of the earthquake. Lopez and Okal (2006) relocated the aftershocks and determined that the rupture area was 180 by 115 km, with an average slip of 6-8 m. This rupture area estimate resulted in a recalculation of the magnitude to an M w of 8.6, much higher than the surface-wave magnitude. The rupture was relatively slow, which may have been the result of slip either through a sedimentary wedge or a "corrugated slab interface" in a sediment-starved environment (Lopez and Okal, 2006).…”

Section: Historical Seismicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lopez and Okal (2006) relocated the aftershocks and determined that the rupture area was 180 by 115 km, with an average slip of 6-8 m. This rupture area estimate resulted in a recalculation of the magnitude to an M w of 8.6, much higher than the surface-wave magnitude. The rupture was relatively slow, which may have been the result of slip either through a sedimentary wedge or a "corrugated slab interface" in a sediment-starved environment (Lopez and Okal, 2006). In addition to the far-field impact from the tsunami, the near-field destruction of the lighthouse Rhea and others (2010).…”

Section: Historical Seismicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

History of earthquakes and tsunamis along the eastern Aleutian-Alaska megathrust, with implications for tsunami hazards in the California Continental Borderland

Ryan¹,

Huene²,

Wells³

et al. 2012

Professional Paper

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For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747).To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce any copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. AbstractDuring the past several years, devastating tsunamis were generated along subduction zones in Indonesia, Chile, and most recently Japan.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Historical Seismicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Historical Seismicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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History of earthquakes and tsunamis along the eastern Aleutian-Alaska megathrust, with implications for tsunami hazards in the California Continental Borderland

Ryan¹,

Huene²,

Wells³

et al. 2012

Professional Paper

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show abstract

“…The tsunami earthquake, unexpectedly large for its initial earthquake surface wave magnitude (M7.4), was observed around the Pacific. Several studies have suggested that the earthquake triggered a landslide which, in turn, generated the near-field tsunami (PLAFKER et al, 2002;FRYER et al, 2004;LOPEZ and OKAL, 2006;OKAL and HERBERT, 2007).…”

Section: Aleutian Tsunami April 1 1946mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomy of Historical Tsunamis: Lessons Learned for Tsunami Warning

Igarashi

Kong

Yamamoto

et al. 2011

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Abstract-Tsunamis are high-impact disasters that can cause death and destruction locally within a few minutes of their occurrence and across oceans hours, even up to a day, afterward. Efforts to establish tsunami warning systems to protect life and property began in the Pacific after the 1946 Aleutian Islands tsunami caused casualties in Hawaii. Seismic and sea level data were used by a central control center to evaluate tsunamigenic potential and then issue alerts and warnings. The ensuing events of 1952, 1957, and 1960 tested the new system, which continued to expand and evolve from a United States system to an international system in 1965. The Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ITSU) steadily improved through the decades as more stations became available in real and near-real time through better communications technology and greater bandwidth. New analysis techniques, coupled with more data of higher quality, resulted in better detection, greater solution accuracy, and more reliable warnings, but limitations still exist in constraining the source and in accurately predicting propagation of the wave from source to shore. Tsunami event data collected over the last two decades through international tsunami science surveys have led to more realistic models for source generation and inundation, and within the warning centers, real-time tsunami wave forecasting will become a reality in the near future. The tsunami warning system is an international cooperative effort amongst countries supported by global and national monitoring networks and dedicated tsunami warning centers; the research community has contributed to the system by advancing and improving its analysis tools. Lessons learned from the earliest tsunamis provided the backbone for the present system, but despite 45 years of experience, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami reminded us that tsunamis strike and kill everywhere, not just in the Pacific. Today, a global intergovernmental tsunami warning system is coordinated under the United Nations. This paper reviews historical tsunamis, their warning activities, and their sea level records to highlight lessons learned with the focus on how these insights have helped to drive further development of tsunami warning systems and their tsunami warning centers. While the international systems do well for teletsunamis, faster detection, more accurate evaluations, and widespread timely alerts are still the goals, and challenges still remain to achieving early warning against the more frequent and destructive local tsunamis.

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“…For example, a tsunami in 1946 generated by a M w 8.6 earthquake near Unimak Pass, Alaska (Figure 1a), caused significant 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.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tsunami hazards to U.S. coasts from giant earthquakes in Alaska

et al. 2012

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In the aftermath of Japan's devastating 11 March 2011Mw 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 Mw 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.

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A seismological reassessment of the source of the 1946 Aleutian ‘tsunami’ earthquake

Cited by 113 publications

References 51 publications

History of earthquakes and tsunamis along the eastern Aleutian-Alaska megathrust, with implications for tsunami hazards in the California Continental Borderland

History of earthquakes and tsunamis along the eastern Aleutian-Alaska megathrust, with implications for tsunami hazards in the California Continental Borderland

Anatomy of Historical Tsunamis: Lessons Learned for Tsunami Warning

Tsunami hazards to U.S. coasts from giant earthquakes in Alaska

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