3.0

M3.0 Earthquake 251 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska — August 19, 2020

2020-08-19 23:07:39 UTC (2020-08-19) · approx. 1:07 PM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.0(ml)
Time23:07 UTC≈ 1:07 PM UTC-10
Depth21.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates56.024°, -149.344°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 19, 2020 at 23:07 UTC, a magnitude 3.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 251 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska, at a depth of 21.2 km and coordinates 56.0241°, -149.3439°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 71 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 56.02°, -149.34°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.0 ml
Depth
21.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
56.0241°N
-149.3439°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000bhgu
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
138
Azimuthal Gap
193.0°
Min Station Distance
2.488°
RMS Residual
0.64 sec
Last Updated
2020-10-31 19:06:09 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.0 earthquake near Chiniak, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.0 earthquake that struck 251 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska on August 19, 2020 at 23:07 UTC had a depth of 21.2 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 3.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.0 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bhgu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 19, 2020). M3.0 Earthquake 251 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska — August 19, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bhgu/