4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 268 km W of Adak, AlaskaMay 17, 2024

2024-05-17 18:54:35 UTC (2024-05-17) · approx. 6:54 AM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time18:54 UTC6:54 AM UTC+12
Depth84.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates51.747°, 179.481°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 17, 2024 at 18:54 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 268 km W of Adak, Alaska, at a depth of 84.9 km and coordinates 51.7473°, 179.4807°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 51.75°, 179.48°

ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity

Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M4.2 earthquake near 268 km W of Adak, Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
84.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
51.7473°N
179.4807°E
Intensity (MMI)
3.4
light

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000mz9e
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
134
Azimuthal Gap
97.0°
Min Station Distance
0.161°
RMS Residual
0.84 sec
Last Updated
2024-07-26 23:58:11 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Adak, Alaska?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 268 km W of Adak, Alaska on May 17, 2024 at 18:54 UTC had a depth of 84.9 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mz9e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 17, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 268 km W of Adak, AlaskaMay 17, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mz9e/