4.3

M4.3 Earthquake near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge — December 9, 2020

2020-12-09 22:35:09 UTC (2020-12-09) · approx. 7:35 PM UTC-3 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time22:35 UTC≈ 7:35 PM UTC-3
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates22.482°, -45.047°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 9, 2020 at 22:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 22.4819°, -45.0467°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 22.48°, -45.05°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
22.4819°N
-45.0467°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000cr08
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Azimuthal Gap
102.0°
Min Station Distance
16.305°
RMS Residual
0.57 sec
Last Updated
2021-02-20 16:11:58 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge on December 9, 2020 at 22:35 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cr08). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 9, 2020). M4.3 Earthquake near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge — December 9, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cr08/