3.1

M3.1 Earthquake 42 km NE of Nelson Lagoon, AlaskaSeptember 17, 2021

2021-09-17 22:04:20 UTC (2021-09-17) · approx. 11:04 AM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM3.1(ml)
Time22:04 UTC11:04 AM UTC-11
Depth179.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates56.231°, -160.663°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 17, 2021 at 22:04 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 42 km NE of Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, at a depth of 179.9 km and coordinates 56.2307°, -160.6635°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 83 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 56.23°, -160.66°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.1 ml
Depth
179.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
56.2307°N
-160.6635°E

Technical Information

Event ID
ak021bycuo9t
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
148
RMS Residual
0.92 sec
Last Updated
2021-12-03 15:01:20 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Nelson Lagoon, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 42 km NE of Nelson Lagoon, Alaska on September 17, 2021 at 22:04 UTC had a depth of 179.9 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ak021bycuo9t). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 17, 2021). M3.1 Earthquake 42 km NE of Nelson Lagoon, AlaskaSeptember 17, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ak021bycuo9t/