4.2

M4.2 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands regionNovember 20, 2022

2022-11-20 22:31:18 UTC (2022-11-20) · approx. 10:31 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:31 UTC10:31 AM UTC-12
Depth141.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-31.384°, -178.847°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 20, 2022 at 22:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 141.0 km and coordinates -31.3842°, -178.8471°.

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 -31.38°, -178.85°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
141.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
-31.3842°N
-178.8471°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000is5a
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
11
Azimuthal Gap
159.0°
Min Station Distance
2.262°
RMS Residual
0.30 sec
Last Updated
2023-01-30 06:00:29 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on November 20, 2022 at 22:31 UTC had a depth of 141.0 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 4.2 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: us7000is5a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, November 20, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands regionNovember 20, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000is5a/