4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsMarch 10, 2023

2023-03-10 22:09:50 UTC (2023-03-10) · approx. 8:09 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:09 UTC8:09 AM UTC+10
Depth29.7 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates15.938°, 146.976°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 10, 2023 at 22:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 29.7 km and coordinates 15.9383°, 146.9761°.

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 15.94°, 146.98°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
29.7 km
shallow crustal
Location
15.9383°N
146.9761°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000jk6j
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
12
Azimuthal Gap
169.0°
Min Station Distance
3.100°
RMS Residual
0.54 sec
Last Updated
2023-05-15 02:49:19 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on March 10, 2023 at 22:09 UTC had a depth of 29.7 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: us7000jk6j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 10, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsMarch 10, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jk6j/