Earth  ID: 2969

Glaciers Spur Alaskan Earthquakes

Visualizations by Alex Kekesi Released on August 3, 2004
In a new study, NASA and United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientists found that retreating glaciers in southern Alaska may be opening the way for future earthquakes. The study examined the likelihood of increased earthquake activity in southern Alaska as a result of rapidly melting glaciers. As glaciers melt they lighten the load on the Earth's crust. Tectonic plates, that are mobile pieces of the Earth's crust, can then move more freely, which increases the probability of earthquakes occurring in this region.
Download Options
Animation of Southern Alaskan Earthquakes over the past decade.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 7-19-1993.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 10-6-1993.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 4-7-1994.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 1-14-1995.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 7-25-1995.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 12-5-1995.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 6-18-1996.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 9-2-1997.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 1-25-1998.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 10-19-1998.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 5-4-1999.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 7-13-2000.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 11-16-2001.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 9-16-2002.
Download Options
Southern Alaskan Earthquakes from 1-18-1993 to 8-2-2003.

For More Information

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2004/0715glacierquakes.html

Visualization Credits

Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Stuart A. Snodgrass (GST): Animator
Marte Newcombe (GST): Animator
Jeanne Sauber (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Bruce Molnia (USGS): Scientist
Sarah DeWitt (NASA/GSFC): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio, USGS/National Earthquake Information Center

Science Paper:
Journal of Global and Planetary Change (July issue)

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/2969

Mission:
Terra

Data Used:
Seismometer
1/18/1993 - 8/2/2003
view all stories where this data set is used
GTOPO30
Model - USGS
view all stories where this data set is used
Terra/MODIS/Blue Marble
Credit:
The Blue Marble data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC).
view all stories where this data set is used
USGS/NEIC/Earthquake Activity
National Earthquake Information Center
view all stories where this data set is used
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

This item is part of this series:
Glacier Earthquakes

Goddard TV Tape:
G2004-042

Keywords:
SVS >> Earthquake
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Solid Earth >> Seismology
GCMD >> Location >> Alaska
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Seismic Activity
SVS >> Fault Boundaries
SVS >> Geology
SVS >> Physical Geography
SVS >> Tectonic Plates
SVS >> Glaciers
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0