M3.9 Earthquake 139 km SE of Atka, Alaska — December 29, 2023
2023-12-29 19:20:01 UTC (2023-12-29) · approx. 7:20 AM UTC-12 local
On December 29, 2023 at 19:20 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 139 km SE of Atka, Alaska, at a depth of 40.6 km and coordinates 51.4486°, -172.5757°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 11 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 296 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.8 mainshock that occurred 24 days ago 109 km SE of Atka, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 50 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-172.5757°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake near Atka, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 139 km SE of Atka, Alaska on December 29, 2023 at 19:20 UTC had a depth of 40.6 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 3.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.8 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 3.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.8 mainshock that occurred earlier 109 km SE of Atka, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.9 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m2qs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 29, 2023). M3.9 Earthquake 139 km SE of Atka, Alaska — December 29, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m2qs/