United States Earthquakes, 1956 - USGS

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

United States Earthquakes, 1956 By

Rutlage J. Brazee and

William K. Cloud

Open-File report 84-956

Prepared in cooperation with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, This report has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards.

1984

CONTENTS

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Introduction ___________________--_____----___----_----_-_----_-_------__--_-_-___--

1

Earthquake information services.______-__--_-_----___-_---_____-_-______-_--..-_-_

1

Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931._--._---_-.-___---__________________..____

2

Epicenter maps.___________-_____--__--_--___--__---_-_-______--___.__---___-_-_ 3

Teleseismic results_______________________________________________________________ 3

Magnitude and Intensity (Damage) Ratings..___..._--_____._____..._.._.___.__._..

3

Strong-motion seismograph results_______-_-___-_-_--_-_______-_-_-_____________-_

3

Earthquake History,____-______-_--__--------_-------____-____-_.._-_-_______-___ 4

Noninstrumental results.____________________________________________________________ 7

Earthquake activity in the various States._----_-___-___.,___--___________-_________

7

Earthquake activity outside the United States,_____________________________________

7

Northeastern region.__---__-_---______--_____-_-_-____---_-_____-_--____-_______ 8

Eastern region._________________________________________________________________ 8

Central region.._______-__._-______---___.__--_-__-_-_---___._-___._..-_-__.___. 10

Western mountain region_.._.-_-__----_.-_-______.-_----__.____.-_-__.____.__.__ 16

California and western Nevada.._---.-__._-----______-.___-.______.._...__..____. 17

Washington and Oregon.__-_-__---_--___-__--____-___-_--_______________-____.__ 34

Alaska__-_____--_______- ___..__-__--_--_-__-___--_-_-_______-_-__-_________-__- 35

Hawaiian Islands. ____--_---_----.-_____-__--_----_---____-______._______________ 36

Panama Canal Zone._______-__--_--_-___--________--____-_-_-___________________ 37

Puerto Rico._____-._-----.-_-----__-------__------------_---___________________ 37

Miscellaneous activities..__._______----_-_------.--------.___---__._.____-._._.-_._._ 38

Geodetic work of seismological interest- ______.__-_______.._._...__.__._._.___...._ 38

Tidal disturbances of seismic origin.________________________________________________ 38

Fluctuations in well-water levels._.___-..----_-___-----__-_-------_____________-_____-_ 39

Introduction____________________________________________________________________ 39

Well descriptions_______._--...--------_------_-_---_-.-_._._._.-.____._-_...-. 39

Table 1. Fluctuations in well-water levels, January 1 through December 31, 1956.._._. 40

Seismological observatory results .____---___----___--_---_-_.----_--___-__---_-___-_ 44

Summary of instrumental epicenters for 1951.______---_-----_--_--_-_________-___-_ 44

Table 2. Summary of instrumental epicenters for 1956._____________________________ 45

Table 3. Principal earthquakes of the world from January through December 31, 1956. 65

Strong-motion seismograph results____________________________________________________ 66

Introduction ___________________________________________________________________ 66

Table 4. Coast and Geodetic Survey strong-motion stations in operation as of December

31, 1956._____.____.._.______..___.___.._......._.........._...______....._ 67

Table 5. List of shocks recorded and records obtained on strong-motion seismographs

in 1956_._______-_--_._.._....._-._----_..._..__-.....__---__...._....___ 69

Table 6. Summary of outstanding instrumental and noninstrumental data for 1956_.._- 70

Table 7. Composite of strong-motion instrumental data for 1956.-------------------- 71

Tilt observations_..___._____--._________________.__________________.____._..,_.__. 78

Corrections to previous editions,______________________________________________________ 78

Publication notices---_--.__----...-----...--____-...-____...__._-____._..____.--_-__ 78

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ILLUSTRATIONS

Page Figure 1. Destructive and near destructive earthquakes in the United States through 1956__ iv Figure 2. United States earthquake epicenters, 1956____________________________________ 5 Figure 3. Area affected by earthquake of September 7_--_--_--_-_-_-___--______-_____-_ 8 Figure 4. Area affected by earthquake of January 6-----_--__-__-______________________ 11 Figure 5. Area affected by earthquake of October 30-------_-____-_--_______-.__-__-___ 13 Figure 6. Area affected by earthquake of November 25._---____--_-__._________________ 15 Figure 7. Area affected by earthquake of January 2____________________________________ 18 Figure 8. Area affected by earthquake of February 9___________________________________ 20 Figure 9. Area affected by earthquake of April 4 ____________________________________ 26 Figure 10. Area affected by earthquake of May ll____-__---___-_______________________ 27 Figure 11. Tracings of accelerograph and displacement meter records obtained at El Centro

on February 9. (1st Section)___-_--------_------_-_----_-_______________________ 72 Figure 12. Tracings of accelerograph and displacement meter records obtained at El Centro

on February 9. (2d Section)._-_-____--_-_---_----__-____________________________ 73 Figure 13. Tracings of displacement meter records obtained at El Centro on February 9

(1st Section) ____-_--_-_--____----_------------------_----____-_-_____--___-__-_ 74 Figure 14. Tracings of displacement meter records obtained at El Centro (2d Section); and

accelerograph records at San Diego on February 9__________________________________ 75 Figure 15. Tracings of accelerograph and displacement meter records obtained at El Centro

on February 9___--_--_---------_.-------_-----.--.-__---_.--.______-_.____-____ 76 Figure 16. Tracings of accelerograph records at Ferndale on October 11; and accelerograph

records at Hawthorne, Nev., on December 31 __-___..__..-_-__-___________________-___ 77

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DESTRUCTIVE AND NEAR DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKES OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH 1956

COMPILED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 0. 3. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

FifiUEK 1. Destructive and near destructive earthquakes in the United States through 195C.

UNITED STATES EARTHQUAKES, 1956

INTRODUCTION

This publication is a summary of earthquake activity in the United States and regions under its jurisdiction for the calendar year 1956. The sources of noninstrumental information used in the compilation include the United States Weather Bureau, whose observers prepare periodic reports on local seismic activity; telegraphic information collected by Science Service, Washington, D. C.; Bulletins of the Seismological Society of America; special reports of the Jesuit Seismological Association and the Northeastern Seismological Association; the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Summary; newspaper clippings; and reports from interested individuals. Instrumental data used in locating earthquakes are obtained from the network of Coast and Geodetic Survey stations listed on page 44 and from other cooperating Seismological stations in the United States and throughout the world.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey endeavors to coordinate efforts in collecting all types of earthquake information with the special object of correlating instrumental earthquake locations with noninstrumental reports received from the epicentral areas. This is done by local organizations making intensive regional investigations in California and elsewhere, and, when necessary, by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. This information serves to map the seismic areas of the country adequately and promote public safety through a better understanding of earthquake phenomena. Since the success of the general information service depends largely on the cooperation of local officials and citizens, all are urged to fill out and return earthquake questionnaires.

Earthquake information services. The Coast and Geodetic Survey maintains a Seismological Field Survey in San Francisco to collect earthquake information and make field investigations of strong shocks in the Pacific coast and western mountain States. Details concerning damage, destruction, and other effects are enumerated in the quarterly Abstracts ojEarthquake Reports for the Pacific Coast and the Western Mountain Region. This report is available on request from the Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington 25, D. C. Active cooperation in this work is received from the University of California Seismographic Station, Berkeley (Dr. Perry Byerly, in charge); and the Seismological Laboratory, Pasadena (Dr. Beno Gutenberg, Director); as well as State Collaborators in Seismology. The following Collaborators served as agents of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in their respective States in 1956:

Arizona. Dr. Eldred D. Wilson, University of Arizona, Tucson. Colorado. Prof. W. Warren Longley, University of Colorado, Boulder. Montana. Prof. Stephen W. Nile, Montana School of Mines, Butte. Nevada. Dr. David B. Slemmons, University of Nevada, Reno. New Mexico. Prof. Stuart A. Northrop, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Oregon. Dr. Ira S. Allison, Oregon State College, Corvallis. Utah. Prof. J. Stewart Williams, Utah State Agricultural College, Logan. Washington. Prof. Howard A. Coombs, University of Washington, Seattle. Wyoming. Prof. Horace D. Thomas, University of Wyoming, Laramie.

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