3.1

M3.1 Earthquake 140 km SW of Nikolski, AlaskaDecember 17, 2023

2023-12-17 19:29:44 UTC (2023-12-17) · approx. 8:29 AM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM3.1(ml)
Time19:29 UTC8:29 AM UTC-11
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates52.149°, -170.480°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 17, 2023 at 19:29 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 140 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 52.1489°, -170.4802°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 83 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 52.15°, -170.48°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.1 ml
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
52.1489°N
-170.4802°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000m0gr
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
148
Stations Used
18
Azimuthal Gap
215.0°
Min Station Distance
0.729°
RMS Residual
0.38 sec
Last Updated
2024-02-27 22:56:55 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Nikolski, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 140 km SW of Nikolski, Alaska on December 17, 2023 at 19:29 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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 3.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m0gr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 17, 2023). M3.1 Earthquake 140 km SW of Nikolski, AlaskaDecember 17, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m0gr/