The Fault in the Facts

State Seismologist and Alaska Earthquake Center Director Michael West said this feature helps demonstrate what could be possible for an Alaska early warning system.

Two tsunami survivors recount their stories of the 1964 earthquake and tsunami in Seward

Scientists in Alaska are working on a project to detect landslides in real-time. The new method may lead to the future ability to detect tsunamis triggered by landslides before waves hit coastal communities.

Can something like what happened in Lituya Bay happen in Southcentral Alaska? This episode is the second part of the latest Fault in the Facts segment. It continues talking about Alaska’s landslide hazards and focuses on the Barry Arm landslide, which is looming over the deep waters of Prince William Sound. Scientists say the tsunami the landslide could trigger has the potential to rival the run-up height of the world’s tallest tsunami, which was in Lituya Bay, Alaska. In this episode, hear from the people of Whittier, a coastal town that could see impacts from the tsunami, plus we explain the peculiar way the landslide was found.

Can something like what happened in Lituya Bay happen in Southcentral Alaska?

The last Fault in the Facts episode focused on the world's tallest tsunami, which was caused by a landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska in 1958.

In this episode, we look at the research behind the Lituya Bay event and expand on it.

Hear about a different landslide that created a big tsunami in the last decade – and a surprising fact about it.

Makayla Clark dives into the history of the world's largest tsunami, which happened in Alaska. We hear from a witness' loved one who will bring their family member's experience to life, with the help of words a survivor spoke about his memories before he died.

Makayla Clark strikes down any faults in the facts and brings you the truth about whether scientists can predict earthquakes.

The largest earthquakes in the world in 2020 and 2021 were in Alaska. Makayla Clark talks with an expert about new research that looks into whether the two quakes are connected and part of an 80-year sequence of quakes.

Makayla Clark strikes down any faults in the facts and brings you the truth about whether Alaska had an earthquake bigger than 9.2 before modern recordings started. 

Makayla Clark strikes down any faults in the facts and brings you the truth about whether tsunamis look like they do on TV

Makayla Clark strikes down any faults in the facts and brings you the truth about whether what happened in Tonga can happen here in Alaska.

Many Alaskans were told growing up that in an earthquake, standing in a doorway was the safest place to be. In this first episode of The Fault in the Facts, Makayla Clark talks with Michael West with the Alaska Earthquake Center about where to go--or not go--during an earthquake.