M5.1 Earthquake 265 km WNW of Fajã da Ovelha, Portugal — December 17, 2022
2022-12-17 12:44:15 UTC (2022-12-17) · approx. 11:44 AM UTC-1 local
On December 17, 2022 at 12:44 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 265 km WNW of Fajã da Ovelha, Portugal, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 33.3277°, -20.0022°. This earthquake was detected by 101 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-20.0022°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Fajã da Ovelha, Portugal?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 265 km WNW of Fajã da Ovelha, Portugal on December 17, 2022 at 12:44 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 33.3277°, -20.0022°, which is 265 km WNW of Fajã da Ovelha, Portugal.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000j9zy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 17, 2022). M5.1 Earthquake 265 km WNW of Fajã da Ovelha, Portugal — December 17, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000j9zy/