SEISMIC STUDIES ON THE ALASKAN COASTAL PLAIN.

• Main Author: Mooney,Harold M.
• Other Authors: MINNESOTA UNIV MINNEAPOLIS DEPT OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1966
• Subjects: Geology; Geochemistry and Mineralogy; Seismology; (*ALASKA; SEISMOLOGY); (*SEISMOLOGY; ALASKA); LITHOSPHERE; SEISMIC WAVES; PROPAGATION; GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING; UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS; Barrow; Point Barrow; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0628490; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0628490

Results are presented (or referenced from earlier reports) for three seasons, 1961-1963, of seismic field work in the vicinity of Point Barrow, Alaska. Seismic refraction data are interpreted in terms of a shallow geologic section near Point Barrow and a crustal section based upon a 280 kilometer profile northwestward from Point Barrow. The former yields velocities of 2.5, 3.1 and 4.8 km/sec with depths to top of 0, 0.4, and 1.0 kilometers. The latter has been interpreted on the basis of three geological models; all include a shallow section with thickness 10-12 kilometers and velocity 4.96 km/sec, an intermediate section with velocity 6. 1-6.6 km/sec, and a high-velocity refractor with velocity 7.56 km/sec at a depth of 28-32 kilometers. Evidence is cited to support the interpretation of the high-velocity refractor as the top of the earth's mantle. Seismic noise analyses were carried out on 14 of 90 available records taken at a location 50 kilometers southwest of Point Barrow. Displacement spectra in the 2-32 cps range were computed for each of the 6 vertical geophones on a 4-km spread. Phase spectra and coherence were determined for a three-component station. Six second noise samples were used, digitized at 0.01 second intervals. (Author)