M4.2 Earthquake in the Mariana Islands region — November 29, 2020
2020-11-29 20:07:39 UTC (2020-11-29) · approx. 6:07 AM UTC+10 local
On November 29, 2020 at 20:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Mariana Islands region, at a depth of 302.5 km and coordinates 21.6193°, 143.0884°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 12 days ago in the Mariana Islands region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
143.0884°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Mariana Islands region?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Mariana Islands region on November 29, 2020 at 20:07 UTC had a depth of 302.5 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Mariana Islands region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ckzk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 29, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake in the Mariana Islands region — November 29, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ckzk/