3.4

M3.4 Earthquake 234 km SE of Chiniak, AlaskaJanuary 19, 2023

2023-01-19 21:21:18 UTC (2023-01-19) · approx. 11:21 AM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.4(ml)
Time21:21 UTC11:21 AM UTC-10
Depth15.5 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates56.245°, -149.357°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 19, 2023 at 21:21 UTC, a magnitude 3.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 234 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska, at a depth of 15.5 km and coordinates 56.2452°, -149.3575°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.9 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 134 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 56.25°, -149.36°

ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity

Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M3.4 earthquake near 234 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.4 ml
Depth
15.5 km
shallow crustal
Location
56.2452°N
-149.3575°E
Intensity (MMI)
1.0
weak

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000j5m5
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
178
Stations Used
49
Azimuthal Gap
212.0°
Min Station Distance
2.343°
RMS Residual
0.47 sec
Last Updated
2023-03-31 19:45:34 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.4 earthquake near Chiniak, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.4 earthquake that struck 234 km SE of Chiniak, Alaska on January 19, 2023 at 21:21 UTC had a depth of 15.5 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 3.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.4 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j5m5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 19, 2023). M3.4 Earthquake 234 km SE of Chiniak, AlaskaJanuary 19, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j5m5/