Reporting Unusual Events

The University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute keeps a valuable file of reports of sightings of unusual events. Sometimes a report of apparently only passing interest at the time is found, years later, to be of real significance.

Many of the reports are by staff members, but most are telephoned or written in from residents around Alaska. The reports concern earthquakes, unusual animal behavior, atypical water motions or waves, meteor sightings, peculiar cloud formations, satellite sightings, unusual auroras, reports of hearing the aurora, unidentified flying objects, etc.--a whole host of curious or unexplained events.

The most valuable reports are usually those that contain detailed information of a factual nature. The timing and duration of an event are always important, as is the location of the observer. Especially if an observer does not understand the event, it is worth reporting as many features of it and the general environment as possible. The temperature, wind, cloud cover, moisture in the air and proximity to man-made or natural objects can be important as can the color, shape or apparent size of on unknown object. Especially if the sighted object or phenomenon is in the sky, it may be difficult to tell how far away it is. Reports of angles from known directions or objects often are more useful than an observer's estimate of distance.

The clenched fist with extended thumb at arm's length is a useful device for measuring vertical angles. If the base of the fist is placed on the observer's horizon, the tip of the thumb will be 20 degrees above the horizon. By "walking" the clenched fist up the sky 20 degrees at a time, a fairly accurate measure of elevation can be made. Above all, note the time and write down what has been observed as quickly as possible

One of the most interesting reports we have ever received was from a woman at Huslia. She said, "I was cleaning fish at the river, and an unusual wave came across the water; I think there has been an earthquake somewhere." The details she gave, plus a similar independent report from a man several miles away, made it possible to verify that she had observed the effects of an earthquake near Yakutat, 800 miles distant.