4.5

M4.5 Earthquake near Norwegian SeaDecember 13, 2023

2023-12-13 20:27:14 UTC (2023-12-13) · approx. 8:27 PM UTC+0 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time20:27 UTC8:27 PM UTC+0
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates72.618°, 3.940°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 13, 2023 at 20:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Norwegian Sea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 72.6180°, 3.9400°. This earthquake was detected by 32 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 72.62°, 3.94°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
72.6180°N
3.9400°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000lk3b
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
32
Azimuthal Gap
84.0°
Min Station Distance
6.392°
RMS Residual
1.21 sec
Last Updated
2024-02-17 22:43:13 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Norwegian Sea?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck near Norwegian Sea on December 13, 2023 at 20:27 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 72.6180°, 3.9400°, which is near Norwegian Sea.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000lk3b). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 13, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake near Norwegian SeaDecember 13, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lk3b/