4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 9 km SW of Álftanes, IcelandDecember 18, 2023

2023-12-18 23:25:14 UTC (2023-12-18) · approx. 10:25 PM UTC-1 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time23:25 UTC10:25 PM UTC-1
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates64.046°, -22.177°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 18, 2023 at 23:25 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 9 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 64.0461°, -22.1765°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 64.05°, -22.18°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
64.0461°N
-22.1765°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000m15h
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
141.0°
Min Station Distance
0.795°
RMS Residual
0.58 sec
Last Updated
2024-02-27 22:56:56 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Álftanes, Iceland?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 9 km SW of Álftanes, Iceland on December 18, 2023 at 23:25 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m15h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 18, 2023). M4.1 Earthquake 9 km SW of Álftanes, IcelandDecember 18, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m15h/