M4.6 Earthquake near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge — March 18, 2022
2022-03-18 20:38:41 UTC (2022-03-18) · approx. 5:38 PM UTC-3 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On March 18, 2022 at 20:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 25.1128°, -45.4534°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred 3 hours ago near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-45.4534°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge on March 18, 2022 at 20:38 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 25.1128°, -45.4534°, which is near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000gwnt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, March 18, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake near northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge — March 18, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000gwnt/