4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 14 km E of Katsuren-haebaru, JapanDecember 7, 2021

2021-12-07 23:14:10 UTC (2021-12-07) · approx. 8:14 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time23:14 UTC8:14 AM UTC+9
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates26.342°, 128.016°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 7, 2021 at 23:14 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 14 km E of Katsuren-haebaru, Japan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 26.3418°, 128.0164°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 26.34°, 128.02°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
26.3418°N
128.0164°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000gb8e
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Azimuthal Gap
146.0°
Min Station Distance
0.543°
RMS Residual
0.93 sec
Last Updated
2022-02-12 23:07:33 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Katsuren-haebaru, Japan?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 14 km E of Katsuren-haebaru, Japan on December 7, 2021 at 23:14 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gb8e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 7, 2021). M4.0 Earthquake 14 km E of Katsuren-haebaru, JapanDecember 7, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gb8e/