3.2

M3.2 Earthquake 43 km ESE of Akutan, Alaska — December 21, 2020

2020-12-21 17:54:24 UTC (2020-12-21) · approx. 6:54 AM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM3.2(ml)
Time17:54 UTC≈ 6:54 AM UTC-11
Depth75.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates54.005°, -165.143°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 21, 2020 at 17:54 UTC, a magnitude 3.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 43 km ESE of Akutan, Alaska, at a depth of 75.0 km and coordinates 54.0051°, -165.1429°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 97 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 54.01°, -165.14°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.2 ml
Depth
75.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
54.0051°N
-165.1429°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000d4am
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
158
Azimuthal Gap
190.0°
Min Station Distance
0.393°
RMS Residual
0.25 sec
Last Updated
2021-02-27 23:24:27 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.2 earthquake near Akutan, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.2 earthquake that struck 43 km ESE of Akutan, Alaska on December 21, 2020 at 17:54 UTC had a depth of 75.0 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 3.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.2 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d4am). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 21, 2020). M3.2 Earthquake 43 km ESE of Akutan, Alaska — December 21, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d4am/