3.0

M3.0 Earthquake 75 km NW of Paxson, AlaskaDecember 5, 2021

2021-12-05 17:28:24 UTC (2021-12-05) · approx. 7:28 AM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.0(ml)
Time17:28 UTC7:28 AM UTC-10
Depth0.8 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates63.520°, -146.765°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 5, 2021 at 17:28 UTC, a magnitude 3.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 75 km NW of Paxson, Alaska, at a depth of 0.8 km and coordinates 63.5201°, -146.7646°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 71 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 63.52°, -146.76°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.0 ml
Depth
0.8 km
shallow crustal
Location
63.5201°N
-146.7646°E

Technical Information

Event ID
ak021fkxh2lg
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
138
RMS Residual
0.77 sec
Last Updated
2022-02-12 23:06:05 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.0 earthquake near Paxson, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.0 earthquake that struck 75 km NW of Paxson, Alaska on December 5, 2021 at 17:28 UTC had a depth of 0.8 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 3.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.0 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ak021fkxh2lg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 5, 2021). M3.0 Earthquake 75 km NW of Paxson, AlaskaDecember 5, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ak021fkxh2lg/