4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 87 km S of Nikolski, AlaskaMay 10, 2022

2022-05-10 23:40:59 UTC (2022-05-10) · approx. 12:40 PM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time23:40 UTC12:40 PM UTC-11
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates52.163°, -168.677°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 10, 2022 at 23:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 87 km S of Nikolski, Alaska, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 52.1634°, -168.6768°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 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 5.5 mainshock that occurred 8 days ago 100 km S of Nikolski, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 172 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 52.16°, -168.68°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
52.1634°N
-168.6768°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000h8h5
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
75
Azimuthal Gap
149.0°
Min Station Distance
0.817°
RMS Residual
0.96 sec
Last Updated
2022-07-22 18:31:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Nikolski, Alaska?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 87 km S of Nikolski, Alaska on May 10, 2022 at 23:40 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.5 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 4.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred earlier 100 km S of Nikolski, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000h8h5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 10, 2022). M4.0 Earthquake 87 km S of Nikolski, AlaskaMay 10, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000h8h5/