Earthquake at Glacier Bay

[huskyguy]

Many people in Haines, Skagway and even Whitehorse were tossed awake 45 minutes ago by a 5.8 earthquake in Glacier Bay, near Russell Island (the mouth of Tarr Inlet and John Hopkins Inlet). It's a safe bet that a lot of ice was shaken off the glaciers. That should make for some bad ice conditions everywhere in the region for at least a few days, for ships trying to approach. http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/Seis/recent/macsub/quakes/2014155_evid11281644/evid11281644.html

Edited June 4, 2014 by huskyguy

[huskyguy]

There are significant aftershocks still occurring at that location. I wish I was on a ship going to GB today :)

[MVPinBoynton]

We board the Island Princess today, so won't be in GB until Monday. Hope it doesn't affect our ability to get in there.

[huskyguy]

Interesting morning - in the past hour or so there have also been 4 tremors within a few miles of Hubbard Glacier. In 2010 we arrived at Hubbard the day after an earthquake and couldn't get within about 7 miles of it because of the amount of ice in the water.

Edited June 4, 2014 by huskyguy

[Alaska0799]

Interesting morning - in the past hour or so there have also been 4 tremors within a few miles of Hubbard Glacier. In 2010 we arrived at Hubbard the day after an earthquake and couldn't get within about 7 miles of it because of the amount of ice in the water.

 

Fascinating! Ironically, I was just reading in Joe Upton's Alaska Cruise Handbook (or Companion, depending upon which edition one has) last night about the effect of a very strong earthquake on Muir Glacier. I'd never really considered that phenomenon until reading that--then I read your post this morning! The Golden Princess (the ship we'll be on in July) entered Glacier Bay this morning. Will be interesting to watch the Bridge Cam while they approach Tarr Inlet. Water appears calm, at least!

 

http://www.nps.gov/glba/historyculture/following-the-quake-of-1899.htm

[Chenega]

Pretty normal activity considering the number of active fault lines in that region. If you really want to see something interesting, check out this article from a 1958 quake and wave that occurred in this region. http://www.extremescience.com/biggest-wave.htm

[RoxnDox]

In addition to the Alaska EQ Info Center (AEIC) link already given, there's more info available from the USGS NEIC page for this event (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000rauc#summary)

 

Looks like a strong vertical component to the shaking (common in a subduction environment like SE AK). It'll be interesting to see what the ice conditions will be next week for the Golden... I'd like to see some ice, but I'd really want to get close enough to get the glacier views too. Hmmmm well we get whatever we get!

 

Jim :cool:

[huskyguy]

The Golden is just pulling up to the Margerie Glacier right now, and the ice looks reasonable - http://www.princess.com/bridgecams/?shipCode=np

[OCruisers]

The Golden is just pulling up to the Margerie Glacier right now, and the ice looks reasonable - http://www.princess.com/bridgecams/?shipCode=np

 

Thanks for the update!

LuLu

[bearbait]

I use this site for recent up to date earthquake activity.

 

http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recent/sub/index.html

[Alaska0799]

Pretty normal activity considering the number of active fault lines in that region. If you really want to see something interesting, check out this article from a 1958 quake and wave that occurred in this region. http://www.extremescience.com/biggest-wave.htm

 

Chenega, could that be Beloit or Blackstone Glacier depicted in the photo in the text of your comment?

[Traveller20074]

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Alaska, about 73km from Haines, near Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

 

The earthquake hit on Wednesday at 11:58 GMT southwest of Haines, which has a population of over 2,500 people. The epicenter was 10km deep, according to United States Geological Survey.

 

The quake was first reported at a magnitude of 5.8, however it was subseqently downgraded to 5.7.

 

There have been no reports of casualties.

 

The circum-Pacific seismic belt, the earth's most active seismic feature, brushes Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, resulting in frequent earthquakes. More than 80 percent of the planet's tremors occur in the circum-Pacific belt, according to USGS data.

[RoxnDox]

I use this site for recent up to date earthquake activity.

 

http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recent/sub/index.html

 

Or, for another view of the same data, see http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/#{%22feed%22%3A%227day_all%22%2C%22search%22%3Anull%2C%22sort%22%3A%22newest%22%2C%22basemap%22%3A%22terrain%22%2C%22autoUpdate%22%3Atrue%2C%22restrictListToMap%22%3Atrue%2C%22timeZone%22%3A%22local%22%2C%22mapposition%22%3A[[42.293564192170095%2C-193.974609375]%2C[72.79008827319015%2C-110.0390625]]%2C%22overlays%22%3A{%22plates%22%3Atrue%2C%22faults%22%3Atrue%2C%22ushazard%22%3Atrue}%2C%22viewModes%22%3A{%22map%22%3Atrue%2C%22list%22%3Atrue%2C%22settings%22%3Atrue%2C%22help%22%3Afalse}}

 

USGS and UAF are pulling the same info from the instruments, the only difference is in the web software doing the displays and the options it gives for maps, features, date ranges, etc. If you really want to see the patterns, zoom out to the worldwide view for 30 days of 2.5+ :cool:

 

Jim

Edited June 4, 2014 by RoxnDox

[Chenega]

Chenega, could that be Beloit or Blackstone Glacier depicted in the photo in the text of your comment?

 

Yes, that is Beloit in Blackstone Bay. I took the picture last year while on a water taxi operated by Lazy Otter charters out of Whittier. My wife works part-time for the company handling sightseeing and kayak tours. I sometimes get to go along for the ride. In fact, she's out there today and said the weather was spectacular.

[Chenega]

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Alaska, about 73km from Haines, near Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

 

The earthquake hit on Wednesday at 11:58 GMT southwest of Haines, which has a population of over 2,500 people. The epicenter was 10km deep, according to United States Geological Survey.

 

The quake was first reported at a magnitude of 5.8, however it was subseqently downgraded to 5.7.

 

There have been no reports of casualties.

 

The circum-Pacific seismic belt, the earth's most active seismic feature, brushes Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, resulting in frequent earthquakes. More than 80 percent of the planet's tremors occur in the circum-Pacific belt, according to USGS data.

 

There have been several tremors in Northwest Alaska as well near Kotzebue and the Pavlof volcano is active (http://www.avo.alaska.edu). Pretty typical for Alaska.

 

For visitors to the Anchorage area, if you want to more know about these phenomena, visit the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in downtown Anchorage (605 West 4th avenue) where they have several exhibits on the 1964 quake. There's also a free earthquake walking tour daily. Check out their site at http://www.alaskacenters.gov/anchorage.cfm

Edited June 4, 2014 by Chenega

[mskaufman]

Would be interested in seeing pictures from someone who is up there this week.

[laughing husky]

and the sound was beautiful yesterday also.....Me thinks we are back to the May weather again.....Not complaining....The earthquake tour by Ranger Rick is very interesting....AND, it is free....I think it is at 4 PM, but not positive....They have a couple of tours this summer....all are free....

[Mytime2014]

The Golden is just pulling up to the Margerie Glacier right now, and the ice looks reasonable - http://www.princess.com/bridgecams/?shipCode=np

 

Thank you for that link! I've had it up in the background today - 30 more days and I'll be headed that way!

Edited June 5, 2014 by Mytime2014

[Chenega]

and the sound was beautiful yesterday also.....Me thinks we are back to the May weather again.....Not complaining....The earthquake tour by Ranger Rick is very interesting....AND, it is free....I think it is at 4 PM, but not positive....They have a couple of tours this summer....all are free....

 

The quake walking tour is at 2:45pm every day.. It is preceded on Monday by a 2:00pm lecture on the 1964 quake.

[mlkmnsgrl]

Forgive me if it's already been mentioned, but I could spend a lifetime on earthquaketrack.com! Similar mapping and things. They also Tweet every earthquake over a 2 or so. Really interesting to see how many quakes occur worldwide on a daily basis. A bit terrifying, a bit awesome! :cool: We're landing in Anchorage on the 15th and can't wait! But I better not mention it to my husband--he's already freaked out about being on a cruise, going where there are bears, staying in a hostel for a night, etc etc etc. :D:D:D The poor guy needs to live a little!

[RoxnDox]

Forgive me if it's already been mentioned, but I could spend a lifetime on earthquaketrack.com! Similar mapping and things. They also Tweet every earthquake over a 2 or so. Really interesting to see how many quakes occur worldwide on a daily basis. A bit terrifying, a bit awesome! :cool: We're landing in Anchorage on the 15th and can't wait! But I better not mention it to my husband--he's already freaked out about being on a cruise, going where there are bears, staying in a hostel for a night, etc etc etc. :D:D:D The poor guy needs to live a little!

 

Heh, that is a nice site, adding it to my list ;) Nice clean design & simple interface to the data, very good for a quick look.

 

Jim

[Traveller20074]

this is from the Glacier Bay National Park Facebook page

 

 

 

Rockin' and Rollin' in Gustavus/Glacier Bay...4 AM Earthquake!

 

The Glacier Bay landscape was restless early this when a 5.7 magnitude quake shook the park. Rangers up-bay reported rocks falling and extended calving at McBride Glacier. ~TV

 

http://www.ktoo.org/2014/06/04/quake-shakes-southeast-alaska/

http://www.ktoo.org