Destruction from Seismic Vibrations
The 1964 Alaskan earthquake provided geologists with insights into the role of ground shaking as a destructive force. As the energy released by an earthquake travels along Earth's surface, it causes the ground to vibrate in a complex manner by moving up and down as well as from side to side. The amount of damage to structures attributable to the vibrations depends on several factors, including (1) the intensity and (2) the duration of the shaking, (3) the nature of the material upon which the structure rests, and (4) the nature of building materials and the construction practices of the region.