5.0

M5.0 Earthquake north of Svalbard — June 5, 2020

2020-06-05 16:26:03 UTC (2020-06-05) · approx. 4:26 PM UTC+0 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mww)
Time16:26 UTC≈ 4:26 PM UTC+0
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates81.383°, -3.399°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 5, 2020 at 16:26 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck north of Svalbard, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 81.3832°, -3.3992°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 81.38°, -3.40°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mww
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
81.3832°N
-3.3992°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000a6n6
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Azimuthal Gap
32.0°
Min Station Distance
3.604°
RMS Residual
0.91 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 19:05:58 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake north of Svalbard?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck north of Svalbard on June 5, 2020 at 16:26 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 81.3832°, -3.3992°, which is north of Svalbard.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000a6n6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, June 5, 2020). M5.0 Earthquake north of Svalbard — June 5, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000a6n6/