3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 151 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands — September 16, 2020

2020-09-16 23:41:07 UTC (2020-09-16) · approx. 7:41 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM3.8(md)
Time23:41 UTC≈ 7:41 PM UTC-4
Depth72.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates19.498°, -64.042°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 16, 2020 at 23:41 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 151 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands, at a depth of 72.0 km and coordinates 19.4983°, -64.0418°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 8.7 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 269 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 19.50°, -64.04°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 md
Depth
72.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
19.4983°N
-64.0418°E

Technical Information

Event ID
pr2020260017
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
227
Stations Used
15
Azimuthal Gap
341.0°
Min Station Distance
2.259°
RMS Residual
0.28 sec
Last Updated
2020-11-28 21:31:46 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 151 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands on September 16, 2020 at 23:41 UTC had a depth of 72.0 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 3.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: pr2020260017). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 16, 2020). M3.8 Earthquake 151 km NNE of Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands — September 16, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/pr2020260017/