Alaska-Aleutian megathrust
Encyclopedia
Alaska
is a a seismically active state, perhaps the more so than any of the other states in the United States. The Alaskan-Aleutian megathrust faultline which runs along the coast of Alaska is also considered to be a fault line that is characteristically longer than the Cascadia Fault-line
that runs along the Pacific West Coast. The Alaska/Aleutian faultline was most notably responsible for the 1964 Alaska earthquake. This megathrust fault, while large also happens to form the northeast boundary of the Pacific Plate
. This fault happens to extends east along the Aleutian arc into south-central Alaska along which the Pacific plate is subducted beneath the North American Plate
which gives rise to the Aleutian arc
and islands. It is significantly one of the worlds most active seismic faults, more than likely before the Cascadia Fault. In the past, it has been home to a number of repeated giant and also greatly damaging earthquakes and equally matching tsunamis.
One of the many characteristics of the Aleutian-Alaska megathrust fault includes the fact that the fault is subducted, with what are considered high standing ridges and large seamounts, characteristic of large faults. Of course, in the same way this also leads to the fact that there are several other conditions that would and could easily lead to continued lateral rupture: a trench that runs from Middleton Island to Attu Island
, is more or less thickly charged with sediment shed from the glaciated Alaskan drainage. The earthquake that this fault churned out in 1964 in Alaska was also the largest recorded in the United States having been measured at magnitude 9.2.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
is a a seismically active state, perhaps the more so than any of the other states in the United States. The Alaskan-Aleutian megathrust faultline which runs along the coast of Alaska is also considered to be a fault line that is characteristically longer than the Cascadia Fault-line
Cascadia subduction zone
The Cascadia subduction zone is a subduction zone, a type of convergent plate boundary that stretches from northern Vancouver Island to northern California. It is a very long sloping fault that separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates.New ocean floor is being created offshore of...
that runs along the Pacific West Coast. The Alaska/Aleutian faultline was most notably responsible for the 1964 Alaska earthquake. This megathrust fault, while large also happens to form the northeast boundary of the Pacific Plate
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million square kilometres, it is the largest tectonic plate....
. This fault happens to extends east along the Aleutian arc into south-central Alaska along which the Pacific plate is subducted beneath the North American Plate
North American Plate
The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland, Cuba, Bahamas, and parts of Siberia, Japan and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust...
which gives rise to the Aleutian arc
Aleutian Arc
The Aleutian Arc is a large volcanic arc in the U.S. state of Alaska. It consists of a number of active and dormant volcanoes that have formed as a result of subduction along the Aleutian Trench...
and islands. It is significantly one of the worlds most active seismic faults, more than likely before the Cascadia Fault. In the past, it has been home to a number of repeated giant and also greatly damaging earthquakes and equally matching tsunamis.
One of the many characteristics of the Aleutian-Alaska megathrust fault includes the fact that the fault is subducted, with what are considered high standing ridges and large seamounts, characteristic of large faults. Of course, in the same way this also leads to the fact that there are several other conditions that would and could easily lead to continued lateral rupture: a trench that runs from Middleton Island to Attu Island
Attu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
, is more or less thickly charged with sediment shed from the glaciated Alaskan drainage. The earthquake that this fault churned out in 1964 in Alaska was also the largest recorded in the United States having been measured at magnitude 9.2.