M3.2 Earthquake near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska — May 15, 2022
2022-05-15 14:29:34 UTC (2022-05-15) · approx. 2:29 AM UTC+12 local
On May 15, 2022 at 14:29 UTC, a magnitude 3.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, at a depth of 39.4 km and coordinates 51.6236°, 176.4604°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 97 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 8 days ago 236 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 54 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
176.4604°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.2 earthquake near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.2 earthquake that struck near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska on May 15, 2022 at 14:29 UTC had a depth of 39.4 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 3.2 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 3.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 236 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.2 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000i2jd). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 15, 2022). M3.2 Earthquake near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska — May 15, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000i2jd/