Discussion Topics

• Goals for deployment of FY2000 instruments
• Strong motion network communication
• Anchorage shake maps
• Plans for future instruments

Attendees

Fairbanks:    Niren Biswas, Anchorage Strong Motion Project, UAF
                        Steve Estes, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, UAF
                        Roger Hansen, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, UAF
                        Kent Lindquist, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, UAF
                        Tom Murray, Alaska Volcano Observatory, USGS
Palmer:         Alec Medbury, West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
                        Bob Page, National Strong Motion Program, USGS
                        Paul Whitmore, West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Goals for deployment of FY2001 instruments

Deployment of ten digital strong motion instruments will occur in the Anchorage Bowl area in summer 2001.  Using Niren Biswas' existing strong motion network as a base, the following action will be taken:

• upgrade six analog SMA-1 instruments to digital K-2 instruments
• relocate two existing instruments to new sites
• add two new sites

Strong motion network communication

The existing Anchorage strong motion network is currently using "dial-in" means of communication.    It was agreed upon that using a diversity of communication types is a good idea.  Talk of real-time and wireless communication ensued.

Anchorage shake maps

Tom Murray posed the question, "If a large earthquake were to occur right now, could we get a credible shake map for Anchorage?"  Kent Lindquist replied that he had researched the subject and there is currently no definite answer.  Bob Page supplied that it would take at least ten stations in the Anchorage Bowl and five additional stations nearby to produce a rudimentary shake map.  There was talk of a shake map workshop being held in coming months.

Plans for future instruments

Where will future Alaska ANSS instruments be located?

It was agreed upon that the next five instruments (FY2002) should be located out of the Anchorage Bowl area.  This will help with the production of shake maps and also satisfies the requests of the Alaska ANSS Advisory Committee.  Location suggestions were Girdwood, Hope, Larsen Bay, Arctic Valley, and west of the Cook Inlet (i.e. Beluga).

Questions were raised about other additional instruments:  should there be a second concentration of strong motion instruments in another area (suggestions: Fairbanks, Valdez), or should they be spread out across the state?  It was decided that more input from the Advisory Committee was needed to answer these questions.