4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 229 km SSE of Katsuura, JapanDecember 23, 2023

2023-12-23 20:38:24 UTC (2023-12-23) · approx. 5:38 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time20:38 UTC5:38 AM UTC+9
Depth35.3 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates33.263°, 141.337°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 23, 2023 at 20:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 229 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan, at a depth of 35.3 km and coordinates 33.2631°, 141.3365°.

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 33.26°, 141.34°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
35.3 km
shallow crustal
Location
33.2631°N
141.3365°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000m1ph
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
22
Azimuthal Gap
164.0°
Min Station Distance
1.285°
RMS Residual
0.59 sec
Last Updated
2024-02-27 22:56:58 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Katsuura, Japan?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 229 km SSE of Katsuura, Japan on December 23, 2023 at 20:38 UTC had a depth of 35.3 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: us6000m1ph). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 23, 2023). M4.1 Earthquake 229 km SSE of Katsuura, JapanDecember 23, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m1ph/