4.3

M4.3 Earthquake north of Svalbard — August 14, 2020

2020-08-14 22:47:48 UTC (2020-08-14) · approx. 10:47 PM UTC+0 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time22:47 UTC≈ 10:47 PM UTC+0
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates84.698°, 6.173°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 14, 2020 at 22:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck north of Svalbard, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 84.6979°, 6.1730°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 84.70°, 6.17°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
84.6979°N
6.1730°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000bf0t
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Azimuthal Gap
91.0°
Min Station Distance
5.871°
RMS Residual
0.73 sec
Last Updated
2020-10-24 20:08:52 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake north of Svalbard?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck north of Svalbard on August 14, 2020 at 22:47 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bf0t). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 14, 2020). M4.3 Earthquake north of Svalbard — August 14, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bf0t/