3.9

M3.9 Earthquake 112 km ENE of Atka, Alaska — March 15, 2021

2021-03-15 20:04:44 UTC (2021-03-15) · approx. 8:04 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM3.9(mb)
Time20:04 UTC≈ 8:04 AM UTC-12
Depth211.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates52.729°, -172.799°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 15, 2021 at 20:04 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 112 km ENE of Atka, Alaska, at a depth of 211.3 km and coordinates 52.7294°, -172.7994°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 11 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 296 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 52.73°, -172.80°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.9 mb
Depth
211.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
52.7294°N
-172.7994°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000dza5
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
234
Azimuthal Gap
152.0°
Min Station Distance
0.855°
RMS Residual
0.50 sec
Last Updated
2021-05-26 22:07:47 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake near Atka, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 112 km ENE of Atka, Alaska on March 15, 2021 at 20:04 UTC had a depth of 211.3 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 3.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.9 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dza5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 15, 2021). M3.9 Earthquake 112 km ENE of Atka, Alaska — March 15, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dza5/