4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 79 km SE of Ishinomaki, JapanAugust 31, 2022

2022-08-31 17:47:51 UTC (2022-08-31) · approx. 2:47 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time17:47 UTC2:47 AM UTC+9
Depth59.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates38.009°, 142.046°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 31, 2022 at 17:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 79 km SE of Ishinomaki, Japan, at a depth of 59.6 km and coordinates 38.0090°, 142.0463°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 38.01°, 142.05°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
59.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
38.0090°N
142.0463°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000i432
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
25
Azimuthal Gap
165.0°
Min Station Distance
2.879°
RMS Residual
0.77 sec
Last Updated
2022-11-06 04:36:50 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Ishinomaki, Japan?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 79 km SE of Ishinomaki, Japan on August 31, 2022 at 17:47 UTC had a depth of 59.6 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000i432). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, August 31, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 79 km SE of Ishinomaki, JapanAugust 31, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i432/