4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 98 km ESE of Yamada, JapanDecember 1, 2021

2021-12-01 17:40:49 UTC (2021-12-01) · approx. 3:40 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time17:40 UTC3:40 AM UTC+10
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates39.260°, 143.066°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 1, 2021 at 17:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 98 km ESE of Yamada, Japan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 39.2602°, 143.0663°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 39.26°, 143.07°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
39.2602°N
143.0663°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000ga1a
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Azimuthal Gap
139.0°
Min Station Distance
2.166°
RMS Residual
0.88 sec
Last Updated
2022-02-05 23:04:04 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Yamada, Japan?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 98 km ESE of Yamada, Japan on December 1, 2021 at 17:40 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ga1a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 1, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake 98 km ESE of Yamada, JapanDecember 1, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ga1a/