3.9

M3.9 Earthquake 220 km WSW of Adak, Alaska — July 31, 2021

2021-07-31 21:52:20 UTC (2021-07-31) · approx. 9:52 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM3.9(mb)
Time21:52 UTC≈ 9:52 AM UTC-12
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates50.997°, -179.471°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 31, 2021 at 21:52 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 220 km WSW of Adak, Alaska, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 50.9969°, -179.4709°.

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 51.00°, -179.47°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.9 mb
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
50.9969°N
-179.4709°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000f12y
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
234
Azimuthal Gap
216.0°
Min Station Distance
0.693°
RMS Residual
1.27 sec
Last Updated
2021-10-14 01:04:32 UTC

Common Questions

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

The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 220 km WSW of Adak, Alaska on July 31, 2021 at 21:52 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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 3.9 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: us6000f12y). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, July 31, 2021). M3.9 Earthquake 220 km WSW of Adak, Alaska — July 31, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000f12y/