Latest news with #Aleutians
UPI
17-07-2025
- Climate
- UPI
Magnitude 7.3 earthquake reported in southern Alaska
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Alaska on Wednesday about 54 miles south of Sand Point. Image by U.S. Geological Survey July 16 (UPI) -- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Alaska on Wednesday and a tsunami warning was canceled two hours later for the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island. The quake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time at a depth of 12.5 miles about 54 miles south of Sand Point, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake was felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and southern Alaska, the Alaska Earthquake Center said. Anchorage, the state's capital, is about 557 miles from the quake center. The Alaska Earthquake Center reported about 30 aftershocks in two hours after the earthquake. The largest one was magnitude 5.2. Dave Snider, a tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center, told KTUU-TV because it happened in shallow water they were "not expecting a large event." The National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska, first issued a tsunami warning right after the quake, then it was downgraded and lifed at 2:43 p.m. Warnings were sounded in Sand Point, Cold Bay and Kodiak. The Kodiak Emergency Operations Center reported a 6-inch wave that was confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard. State Seismologist Michael West told KTUU-TV that activity is common after an earthquake and aftershocks can be expected in the "coming days, weeks and even months." The area is part of Pacific "Ring of Fire." "This is the fifth earthquake exceeding magnitude 7.0 in a very small stretch of the Aleutians, just a couple hundred kilometers, since 2020," West said. "Clearly, something is going on."
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tsunami warning issued in Alaska after 7.3-mag earthquake
(NewsNation) — Residents in Alaska were told to seek higher ground on Wednesday after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami warning. Sirens blared and alerts were sent out in southcentral and southwest Alaska after the tremor struck at 12:38 p.m. local time. The warning followed a 7.3-magnitude earthquake along the Aleutians near Sand Cove, according to Alaska News Source. The National Tsunami Warning Center issued the following warning Wednesday afternoon: 'A TSUNAMI WARNING is posted for portions of Alaska following a M7.2 earthquake 50 miles S of Sand Point, Alaska, at 12:38pm AKDT July 16.' Police in Homer warned residents to head to higher ground as they awaited word on the threat. Secretary Noem: 'No amnesty' for undocumented farm workers NWS later downgraded the warning to an advisory, and the alert was canceled about an hour after the initial warnings went out. By Wednesday late afternoon local time, the Homer Police Department said on its Facebook page that it got 'the all clear.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Federal board considers ‘Mount Carola' as name for peak in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
This map by the state of Alaska shows the location of Mount Carola in the Alaska Range. (State of Alaska image) The federal government may name an Alaska Range mountain after a longtime Talkeetna miner and pioneer woman this week. On Thursday, the domestic names committee of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., to consider proposals for new names. On its agenda is Mount Carola, a mountain between Ruth Glacier and Tokositna Glacier in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The mountain doesn't currently have a federally registered name, according to U.S. Geological Survey records. Carola June Young, born in 1936, was a longtime resident of Talkeetna and the rural Matanuska-Susitna Borough. She was a former owner of the Fairview Inn in Talkeetna, one of the founders of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post, and former president of the Yentna Mining District, which includes Petersville. After her death in 2018, one of her daughters, Michele Stevens, sought to name the mountain — which overlooks the Cache Creek area, her home for 40 years — in her honor. The naming is supported by the Talkeetna Historical Society, the Mat-Su planning commission and the Alaska Miners Association, which petitioned the Alaska Historical Commission, the last stop before the national board. 'Carola Young embodies the Alaska spirit and is the kind of legend we can all be proud of,' wrote Deantha Skibinski, executive director of the Alaska Miners Association, 'and AMA could not be more proud to endorse naming a mountain after her.' During its October 2024 meeting, the board voted 6-1 to approve the nomination and submit it for federal approval. At the same meeting, the board approved the renaming of Arkose Peak to Souvenir Peak, and it approved the naming of a nearby, unnamed mountain to Arkose Peak, reflecting local use by mountaineers and skiers. Both peaks, each above 5,000 feet high, are in the Talkeetna Mountains within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Neither of those proposals is on the federal board's agenda this month, nor is a proposal to rename 'Nazi Creek' in the Aleutians. The Alaska Historical Commission approved that latter change in April, but it remains under consideration by the federal board. The World War II-era name was chosen as part of a pattern of naming features in a grid starting with different letters of the alphabet, and advocates for the change said the original naming was arbitrary. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Megatsunami warning: Three US States could face direct impact within 50 years
A groundbreaking study from Virginia Tech, published in the , has issued an urgent warning: within the next 50 years, three U.S. states—Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington—are at significant risk of experiencing catastrophic megatsunamis. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These colossal waves, potentially reaching up to 1,000 feet, could result from massive earthquakes and geological events, threatening millions of lives and causing unprecedented damage. What is a megatsunami ? A megatsunami is a very large wave created by a large, sudden displacement of material into a body of water. Unlike an ordinary tsunami, a megatsunami is characterized by extremely large wave heights, often hundreds of meters, and is typically caused by massive underwater displacements like large landslides or volcanic eruptions. Megatsunamis can reach wave heights of hundreds of meters and are often triggered by massive underwater events like large landslides, glacier collapses, or meteorite impacts. Megatsunamis can inundate coastal areas much further inland and with greater force than regular tsunamis. In October 1936, a megatsunami occurred in Lituya Bay in Alaska with a maximum run-up height of 150 metres (490 ft) in Crillon Inlet at the head of the bay. The four eyewitnesses to the wave in Lituya Bay itself all survived and described it as between 30 and 76 metres (100 and 250 ft) high. Cascadia Subduction Zone : A ticking time bomb Stretching from Northern California to Vancouver Island, the Cascadia Subduction Zone is a major fault line where the Juan de Fuca Plate is slowly sinking beneath the North American Plate. This tectonic boundary has the potential to produce a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake, with scientists estimating a 15% chance of such an event occurring within the next 50 years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The last significant rupture along this fault occurred in 1700, but the risk remains high. A major earthquake in this region could cause coastal land to sink by up to 6.5 feet, dramatically expanding floodplains and increasing flood risks. The resulting tsunami could send waves up to 40 feet high, devastating communities along the Pacific Northwest coast, including northern California, northern Oregon, and southern Washington. Experts warn that public awareness remains low, and evacuation times could be as short as 10 minutes, leaving little room for escape. Alaska: A double threat from earthquakes and landslides Alaska faces a dual threat from both seismic activity and climate change-induced landslides. The Aleutian Islands, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, are prone to powerful earthquakes. A study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa estimates a 9% chance of a magnitude 9.0 or greater earthquake in the Aleutians within the next 50 years. Such an event could generate a mega-tsunami with waves reaching up to 75 feet, impacting coastal communities along the Alaska Peninsula and potentially affecting areas as far away as Hawaii. Additionally, melting glaciers in Alaska are destabilizing slopes, increasing the risk of massive landslides into the ocean. These landslides can displace large volumes of water, generating tsunamis that could inundate nearby coastal areas. The combination of seismic and climatic factors makes Alaska particularly vulnerable to devastating tsunami events. Hawaii: Volcanic collapses pose tsunami risk Hawaii's unique geological features also place it at risk. The Big Island's active volcanoes, such as Kīlauea, are susceptible to flank collapses—massive landslides where large sections of the volcano's flank slide into the ocean. These collapses can displace enormous amounts of water, generating tsunamis that can affect coastal areas of Hawaii. While the probability of such events is lower compared to other regions, the potential impact on Hawaii's densely populated coastal areas makes it a significant concern. Urgent call for preparedness: The study underscores the need for immediate action to prepare for potential mega-tsunamis. Experts advocate for enhanced , improved infrastructure, and public education campaigns to ensure communities are ready to respond effectively. In the Pacific Northwest, for instance, FEMA estimates that a magnitude 9 earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone could result in over 13,000 fatalities and displace more than a million people. Coastal regions must invest in resilient infrastructure, including elevated buildings and tsunami-resistant designs, to withstand the impacts of such disasters. Additionally, updating evacuation plans and conducting regular drills can save lives by ensuring that residents know how to respond quickly and safely. Global implications and climate change considerations: While the immediate focus is on the United States, the global implications of mega-tsunamis are profound. Rising sea levels due to climate change exacerbate the risks associated with these events, as higher ocean levels can increase the extent of flooding and damage. International collaboration in monitoring seismic activity and sharing early warning information is crucial to mitigate the effects of such disasters worldwide. Conclusion: The recent study serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by coastal regions in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest. With the potential for mega-tsunamis within the next 50 years, these communities must take proactive measures to prepare for such catastrophic events. Through enhanced preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and public awareness, the impact of these disasters can be mitigated, saving lives and protecting livelihoods. As scientists continue to monitor seismic activity and climate change effects, the need for comprehensive disaster planning and international cooperation becomes ever more critical. By learning from past events and investing in future resilience, we can better safeguard our coastal communities against the looming threat of mega-tsunamis. Covid-19 crisis: Goans on a mission to grow more greens, after lockdown blues
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alaska's 'Nazi Creek,' a legacy of World War II, is set for a name change
Apr. 7—This month, state officials voted unanimously to change the names of a creek and a hill on an Aleutian island in response to proposals arguing they were offensive and arbitrary. The features in question are "Nazi Creek," a mile-long stream, and "Nip Hill," a modest summit — both on the southeastern side of Little Kiska Island, beside the bigger, more prominent Kiska Island 242 miles west of Adak at the far end of the Aleutian chain. The move comes after several years of efforts across the country, including in Alaska, to drop words and names with derogatory connections from maps, buildings and civic institutions. Michael Livingston, who submitted the proposals to formally get rid of the existent names, said "Nazi Creek" is particularly offensive given the history of violence that took place during World War II in the Aleutians. "During World War II, the Unangax̂ people — and millions of others — paid dearly due to the actions of Adolf Hitler's Nazis and their Axis powers," Livingston testified during a meeting last Thursday of the Alaska Historical Commission. "After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Dutch Harbor was bombed and 43 Americans were killed in Alaska. Then 881 Unangax̂ people were forcibly relocated. Forty-two people from Attu Village were taken prisoner of war, where 24 died." According to the United States Geological Survey's database of domestic place names, the only geographic feature with "Nazi" in the name is the Aleutian stream on Little Kiska. The term "Nip," Livingston testified, was a derogatory term for Japanese people that came into use during the second World War. It was a derivation of "Nippon," which is the name for Japan in the Japanese language. Livingston is originally from Cold Bay and is a member of the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska. A retired police sergeant, for years he's worked on a number of cartography projects to revise and highlight Unangax̂ history in the U.S. and Alaska. He's also been steadily working to make Alaska maps more accurate. The explanation he's come up with for why a creek and hill on Little Kiska got these names is: expediency. Per the "Dictionary of Alaska Place Names," during World War II the U.S. Army was putting tactical names on geographic features throughout the Aleutians. They did so in grids, and applied an alphabetized naming convention for each square. "Nip" and "Nazi" both started with N. The names were arbitrary, Livingston said in the proposals he submitted, possibly picked by young GIs who had the ongoing war and propaganda front of mind at the time. [The ominous true stories behind Alaska's bloody and brutal place names] His recommendation, adopted 6-0 by the commission, is to give the creek and hill names from Unangam Tunuu, the Indigenous language of the region. Moses Dirks, a member of the Sand Point Village tribe and expert on Unangam Tunuu, recommended renaming the creek "Kaxchim Chiĝanaa" and the hill "Kaxchim Qayaa." The names mean "Gizzard Creek" and "Gizzard Hill" respectively — "Kanchix," or "gizzard," being the traditional name for Little Kiska Island. "A local Indigenous name from people who have lived in the region for thousands of years is more appropriate than the name of Adolf Hitler's murderous Third Reich regime responsible for millions of homicides," states one of the two official name change proposals submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey. Little Kiska is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and most of the land is owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Now that the Alaska Historical Commission has supported the name change, the proposal will go on to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which will decide whether to switch the creek and hill names on federal maps. "The process isn't always entirely step-by-step straightforward ... but in this case it is fairly straightforward," said Katie Ringsmuth, state historian in Alaska's Office of History and Archaeology. If members of the federal board vote to approve the proposals, then federal sources will follow Alaska in renaming the two features in official materials. For years now, and especially following the death of George Floyd and ensuing protests in 2020, Americans have been reconciling with ugly parts of national history and character in skirmishes over place names. Monuments have come down, sports franchises rebranded, schools and institutions renamed. Under the Biden administration, the Interior Department began systematically renaming geographic features — including more than two dozen sites in Alaska — whose titles included a derogatory name for a Native woman. Under the Trump administration, there's been a push to halt or reverse some of those renaming efforts, including restoring the name Bragg to a North Carolina military base and ordering that the name of North America's tallest mountain revert to McKinley from its Koyukon-Athabascan name, Denali.
