3.4

M3.4 Earthquake 244 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska — December 6, 2020

2020-12-06 17:13:20 UTC (2020-12-06) · approx. 7:13 AM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.4(ml)
Time17:13 UTC≈ 7:13 AM UTC-10
Depth20.5 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates56.190°, -149.216°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 6, 2020 at 17:13 UTC, a magnitude 3.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 244 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska, at a depth of 20.5 km and coordinates 56.1896°, -149.2164°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.9 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 134 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 56.19°, -149.22°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.4 ml
Depth
20.5 km
shallow crustal
Location
56.1896°N
-149.2164°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000cnp5
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
178
Azimuthal Gap
217.0°
Min Station Distance
2.438°
RMS Residual
0.61 sec
Last Updated
2021-02-12 22:39:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.4 earthquake near Chiniak, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.4 earthquake that struck 244 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska on December 6, 2020 at 17:13 UTC had a depth of 20.5 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 3.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.4 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cnp5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 6, 2020). M3.4 Earthquake 244 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska — December 6, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cnp5/