M3.5 Earthquake 121 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska — December 27, 2022
2022-12-27 18:39:35 UTC (2022-12-27) · approx. 7:39 AM UTC-11 local
On December 27, 2022 at 18:39 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 121 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 54.3460°, -159.7168°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.7 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 157 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 5.1 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 90 km S of Sand Point, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 13 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-159.7168°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 121 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska on December 27, 2022 at 18:39 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 3.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 90 km S of Sand Point, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j48h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 27, 2022). M3.5 Earthquake 121 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska — December 27, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j48h/