M5.3 Earthquake 254 km WSW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen — May 16, 2023
2023-05-16 03:08:57 UTC (2023-05-16) · approx. 2:08 AM UTC-1 local
On May 16, 2023 at 03:08 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 254 km WSW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 70.3368°, -15.3702°. This earthquake was detected by 107 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-15.3702°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 254 km WSW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen on May 16, 2023 at 03:08 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 70.3368°, -15.3702°, which is 254 km WSW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kc7g). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 16, 2023). M5.3 Earthquake 254 km WSW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen — May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kc7g/