4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 144 km ESE of Namie, JapanDecember 3, 2022

2022-12-03 22:21:03 UTC (2022-12-03) · approx. 8:21 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:21 UTC8:21 AM UTC+10
Depth27.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates37.138°, 142.573°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 3, 2022 at 22:21 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 144 km ESE of Namie, Japan, at a depth of 27.6 km and coordinates 37.1377°, 142.5728°.

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 37.14°, 142.57°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
27.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
37.1377°N
142.5728°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000j7x8
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
18
Azimuthal Gap
184.0°
Min Station Distance
3.551°
RMS Residual
0.75 sec
Last Updated
2023-02-11 23:03:17 UTC

Common Questions

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

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 144 km ESE of Namie, Japan on December 3, 2022 at 22:21 UTC had a depth of 27.6 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: us6000j7x8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 3, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 144 km ESE of Namie, JapanDecember 3, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000j7x8/