M4.6 Earthquake 228 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — December 7, 2020
2020-12-07 23:35:32 UTC (2020-12-07) · approx. 9:35 AM UTC+10 local
On December 7, 2020 at 23:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 228 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 16.9069°, 146.9667°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
146.9667°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 228 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on December 7, 2020 at 23:35 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 16.9069°, 146.9667°, which is 228 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cpvd). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 7, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 228 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — December 7, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cpvd/