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Determining Recurrence Intervals of Great Subduction Zone Earthquakes in Southern Alaska by Radiocarbon Dating

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Radiocarbon After Four Decades

Abstract

We outline here research in progress directed towards determining the seismotectonic cycle in the part of south-central Alaska that was deformed by vertical tectonic displacements during the great 1964 Alaska earthquake. Pre-1964 vertical displacements in this same area are recorded in the coastal stratigraphy and geomorphology. 14C analysis of fossil peat, wood, salt marsh plants and shell material from shoreline sedimentary deposits provides the quantitative dating for this study. The history of vertical deformation yields recurrence intervals for 1964-type events and may ultimately provide a means of forecasting future events.

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Plafker, G., Lajoie, K.R., Rubin, M. (1992). Determining Recurrence Intervals of Great Subduction Zone Earthquakes in Southern Alaska by Radiocarbon Dating. In: Taylor, R.E., Long, A., Kra, R.S. (eds) Radiocarbon After Four Decades. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4249-7_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4249-7_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-4251-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-4249-7

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