3.7

M3.7 Earthquake 96 km SSW of Unalaska, Alaska — December 9, 2020

2020-12-09 19:41:03 UTC (2020-12-09) · approx. 8:41 AM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM3.7(ml)
Time19:41 UTC≈ 8:41 AM UTC-11
Depth42.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates53.071°, -167.082°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 9, 2020 at 19:41 UTC, a magnitude 3.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 96 km SSW of Unalaska, Alaska, at a depth of 42.9 km and coordinates 53.0712°, -167.0817°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 5.4 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 215 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 53.07°, -167.08°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.7 ml
Depth
42.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
53.0712°N
-167.0817°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000cr05
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
211
Azimuthal Gap
100.0°
Min Station Distance
0.603°
RMS Residual
0.42 sec
Last Updated
2021-02-20 16:11:57 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.7 earthquake near Unalaska, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.7 earthquake that struck 96 km SSW of Unalaska, Alaska on December 9, 2020 at 19:41 UTC had a depth of 42.9 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 3.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.7 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cr05). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 9, 2020). M3.7 Earthquake 96 km SSW of Unalaska, Alaska — December 9, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cr05/