Alaska Regional Seismic Network

Alaskan earthquakes are monitored by Alaska regional seismic network. The Alaska Earthquake Information Center (AEIC) records and analyzes data from several networks comprising about 400 sites (or about 800 channels of seismic data) throughout Alaska and the surrounding regions. Many of these stations are in very remote areas with extreme climatic conditions and can only be reached by helicopter, late in summer after the snow has melted. Of these, about 180 sites are operated by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), 18 by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC), 3 by IRIS, and 2 are newly installed as part of the ANSS network. About 40 sites in southern coastal Alaska were installed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and now are run by AEIC, with support from a National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program grant. While majority of the sites are equipped with the short-period analog recording systems, we now have a total of 116 broadband digital stations operating in Alaska. Three of these are the Global Seismic Network stations, two are the newly installed ANSS sites, fifteen are installed by AVO on volcanoes, eight are operated by WC/ATWC, and the rest were installed by AEIC. In addition, AEIC is exchanging real-time data with Canadian regional network augmenting station coverage in the Alaska/Canada border region. AEIC also receives data from six Global Seismic Network sites in Eastern Russia.

AEIC broad-band stations:

In addition, AEIC operates and maintaines about 45 short period sites throughout the state,  the Fairbanks strong-motion network (10 sites), the Anchorages strong-motion network (44 sites),and 13 Strong Motion accelerometers (SMA) in the Prince William Sound region. The SMAs are designed with a two-year routine site visit schedule. The SP stations have varying maintenance schedules from two to five years or more depending upon power source, and equipment failures.

IRIS stations:

ANSS stations:

WC/ATWC stations:

AVO networks:

Map of seismic stations - Alaska regional station map (interactive), current through March 2005