M3.1 Earthquake 13 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii — August 31, 2023
2023-08-31 19:12:50 UTC (2023-08-31) · approx. 9:12 AM UTC-10 local
On August 31, 2023 at 19:12 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 13 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii, at a depth of 30.1 km and coordinates 19.2357°, -155.3577°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 773 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 88 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 14 days ago 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 23 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-155.3577°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Pāhala, Hawaii?
The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 13 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii on August 31, 2023 at 19:12 UTC had a depth of 30.1 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 3.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: hv73555082). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 31, 2023). M3.1 Earthquake 13 km ENE of Pāhala, Hawaii — August 31, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/hv73555082/