George Plafker

George Plafker (March 6, 1929 – April 2, 2026) was an American geologist and scientist. He studied earthquakes and how Earth's plates move.

He focused on big natural events, like undersea earthquakes that can cause large waves called tsunamis. He did much of his work in Alaska.

One of Plafker's biggest achievements was after the large earthquake in Alaska in 1964. By studying this event, he learned that the strongest earthquakes happen when parts of Earth's crust slip along special lines called faults. This was a new and important idea at the time, when scientists were still learning about Earth's plates.

Plafker also worked in other places, like Chile, where he studied strong earthquakes in the late 1960s. His discoveries helped scientists understand more about our planet. Plafker lived a long life and passed away on April 2, 2026, at the age of 97.

Awards

George Plafker received many honors for his important work. In 2017, he was given the Penrose Medal by the Geological Society of America and the Harry Fielding Reid Medal from the Seismological Society of America. These awards recognized his work on earthquakes and how the Earth moves.