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1929–2026

George Plafker

A USGS geologist whose field evidence from Alaska helped establish the earthquake's plate-tectonic mechanism.

Documented roles

Connected Chaos Files

Roles describe the connection to each File; the File’s sources support the historical record.

Field geologist

The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami

A magnitude 9.2 earthquake ruptured the Alaska–Aleutian subduction zone for roughly four and a half minutes, making it the most powerful earthquake recorded in United States history. Shaking, landslides, ground failure, and …

27 March 1964 · Prince William Sound rupture zone and south-central Alaska