3.1

M3.1 Earthquake 44 km ESE of Naalehu, HawaiiDecember 15, 2021

2021-12-15 18:13:46 UTC (2021-12-15) · approx. 8:13 AM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.1(md)
Time18:13 UTC8:13 AM UTC-10
Depth6.4 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates18.905°, -155.197°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 15, 2021 at 18:13 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 44 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii, at a depth of 6.4 km and coordinates 18.9052°, -155.1973°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 651 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 82 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.91°, -155.20°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.1 md
Depth
6.4 km
shallow crustal
Location
18.9052°N
-155.1973°E

Technical Information

Event ID
hv72834632
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
147
Stations Used
46
Azimuthal Gap
255.0°
RMS Residual
0.16 sec
Last Updated
2022-02-24 21:01:24 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Naalehu, Hawaii?

The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 44 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii on December 15, 2021 at 18:13 UTC had a depth of 6.4 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: hv72834632). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 15, 2021). M3.1 Earthquake 44 km ESE of Naalehu, HawaiiDecember 15, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/hv72834632/