M4.2 Earthquake 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — August 15, 2020
2020-08-15 19:42:50 UTC (2020-08-15) · approx. 6:42 AM UTC+11 local
On August 15, 2020 at 19:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 86.3 km and coordinates -10.2084°, 161.2148°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
161.2148°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on August 15, 2020 at 19:42 UTC had a depth of 86.3 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bhr1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 15, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — August 15, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bhr1/