M4.6 Earthquake in the Iceland region — January 2, 2022
2022-01-02 12:30:30 UTC (2022-01-02) · approx. 10:30 AM UTC-2 local
On January 2, 2022 at 12:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Iceland region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 61.3016°, -27.3480°.
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.
The epicenter is located in Iceland, a region characterized by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates diverge at 18-25 mm per year, amplified by the Iceland mantle plume. The nearest mapped fault system is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-27.3480°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake in the Iceland region?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck in the Iceland region on January 2, 2022 at 12:30 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 61.3016°, -27.3480°, which is in the Iceland region. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
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.
Has Iceland had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Iceland was the M6.6 South Iceland earthquake of June 17, 2000. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gbdx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, January 2, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake in the Iceland region — January 2, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gbdx/