The state of Alaska and many other areas of the Arctic are seismically active, experiencing thousands of earthquakes with different magnitudes each year.
Given the vulnerability of the Artic to earthquakes and the accelerating environmental and social changes there, it is critical to evaluate the resiliency of the region’s infrastructure to seismic events in the context of the natural environment, built environment, and social systems and to understand how these changes interact and impact the region’s preparedness and response to earthquakes.
The successful completion of this project has the potential for transformative impact by seeding and catalyzing research that could lead to breakthroughs in fundamental science and engineering—informed by community participation and Indigenous knowledge—to address seismic challenges facing the new Arctic and to improve the region’s preparedness and response to future earthquake-related disasters.
The project addresses an urgent need for Arctic residents to develop strategies to respond to seismic events.
Earthquakes and permafrost degradation are both major concerns for Alaskan communities, and they impact national security, the state’s economy, and the safety and health of local residents. The overarching goals of this project are to (1) Improve the fundamental understanding of the impact of Arctic changes on the region’s preparedness and response to future earthquakes through seismic monitoring/modeling, community engagement, and targeted investigations of the interactions among the relevant components of the natural environment, built environment, and social systems; and (2) enhance the seismic resilience of Arctic communities by providing them with the necessary training and tools to manage future earthquake-related disasters including planning, preparedness, mitigation, and recovery. The project research and education activities will include targeted research studies, workshops, and workforce development.