M4.4 Earthquake in the Macquarie Island region — March 15, 2023
2023-03-15 21:40:34 UTC (2023-03-15) · approx. 8:40 AM UTC+11 local
On March 15, 2023 at 21:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Macquarie Island region, at a depth of 14.8 km and coordinates -53.1932°, 159.5122°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
159.5122°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the Macquarie Island region?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck in the Macquarie Island region on March 15, 2023 at 21:40 UTC had a depth of 14.8 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jlgz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 15, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake in the Macquarie Island region — March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jlgz/