4.0

M4.0 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana IslandsDecember 30, 2022

2022-12-30 20:16:24 UTC (2022-12-30) · approx. 6:16 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time20:16 UTC6:16 AM UTC+10
Depth248.8 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates18.753°, 145.283°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 30, 2022 at 20:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 248.8 km and coordinates 18.7532°, 145.2830°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.75°, 145.28°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
248.8 km
intermediate depth
Location
18.7532°N
145.2830°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000j3pc
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
22
Azimuthal Gap
154.0°
Min Station Distance
5.150°
RMS Residual
0.84 sec
Last Updated
2023-03-07 19:00:10 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands on December 30, 2022 at 20:16 UTC had a depth of 248.8 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.

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: us7000j3pc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 30, 2022). M4.0 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana IslandsDecember 30, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j3pc/