M4.5 Earthquake 218 km N of Siglufjörður, Iceland — September 3, 2022
2022-09-03 19:17:21 UTC (2022-09-03) · approx. 6:17 PM UTC-1 local
On September 3, 2022 at 19:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 218 km N of Siglufjörður, Iceland, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 68.1085°, -18.5612°. This earthquake was detected by 116 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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
-18.5612°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Siglufjörður, Iceland?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 218 km N of Siglufjörður, Iceland on September 3, 2022 at 19:17 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 68.1085°, -18.5612°, which is 218 km N of Siglufjörður, Iceland. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000i4yk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, September 3, 2022). M4.5 Earthquake 218 km N of Siglufjörður, Iceland — September 3, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i4yk/