Abstract
Southeastern Alaska lies in a tectonic belt with structural trends oriented parallel to the Pacific Coast, as noticed by Suess (1892). These trends are now explained by the theory of plate tectonics, which postulates lateral movement of lithospheric plates. The region lies along the actively moving oceanic plate and has structural trends parallel to the contact. Mountainous belts formed along the edge of the continental plate have extensive strike-slip faults and folds. Tectonically mobile hinterland is fronted by a narrow continental shelf. Orogenic activity is high and the region is known for volcanic and earthquake activity. Consequently, the steep mobile hinterland provides a large input of sediments and marine sedimentation is accelerated by frequent earthquakes and related tsunamis.
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Sharma, G.D. (1979). Southeastern Alaska. In: The Alaskan Shelf. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6194-0_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6194-0_2
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