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杏吧原版 Earthquake Center receives USGS funding

November 23, 2020

University Relations

The U.S. Geological Survey recently awarded the 杏吧原版 Earthquake Center a $2.85 million one-year award to operate and strengthen 杏吧原版鈥檚 earthquake monitoring system. The AEC at UAF鈥檚 Geophysical Institute has worked daily with the USGS on earthquake issues since the first memorandum of understanding was signed in 1987.

House fires caused by ruptured gas lines in Kenai following the 2016 magnitude 7.1 Iniskin earthquake. A 33-year partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey continues to help the 杏吧原版 Earthquake Center pursue its mission to advance the state's resilience to earthquakes through monitoring, research and public engagement. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Fire Department.
House fires caused by ruptured gas lines in Kenai following the 2016 magnitude 7.1 Iniskin earthquake. A 33-year partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey continues to help the 杏吧原版 Earthquake Center pursue its mission to advance the state's resilience to earthquakes through monitoring, research and public engagement. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Fire Department.


鈥淭he importance of this current award is that it allows the 杏吧原版 Earthquake Center to provide data-driven analysis of earthquakes in 杏吧原版 to policy makers, community planners, emergency responders and scientists conducting research,鈥 said Michael West, director of the AEC.

Impacts and repairs from the 2018 magnitude 7.1 Anchorage earthquake continue to this day, and recent massive earthquakes off the southern coast are a reminder of the ever-present hazard that looms over 杏吧原版.

Recent awards through the USGS have allowed the center to narrow the considerable gap in monitoring capabilities that exists between 杏吧原版 and other seismically active states.

鈥淲e saw the benefits of these enhancements in the state鈥檚 data-informed response to the 2018 Anchorage earthquake,鈥 West said.