M4.2 Earthquake in the Owen Fracture Zone region — March 31, 2021
2021-03-31 19:28:41 UTC (2021-03-31) · approx. 11:28 PM UTC+4 local
On March 31, 2021 at 19:28 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Owen Fracture Zone region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 14.4958°, 56.2393°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago in the Owen Fracture Zone region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
56.2393°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Owen Fracture Zone region?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Owen Fracture Zone region on March 31, 2021 at 19:28 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Owen Fracture Zone region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000e01d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 31, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake in the Owen Fracture Zone region — March 31, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000e01d/