3.5

M3.5 Earthquake 54 km SE of Atka, AlaskaJuly 9, 2024

2024-07-09 21:29:38 UTC (2024-07-09) · approx. 9:29 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM3.5(ml)
Time21:29 UTC9:29 AM UTC-12
Depth66.8 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates51.894°, -173.570°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 9, 2024 at 21:29 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 54 km SE of Atka, Alaska, at a depth of 66.8 km and coordinates 51.8937°, -173.5698°.

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 19 days ago 98 km SE of Atka, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 62 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 51.89°, -173.57°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.5 ml
Depth
66.8 km
shallow crustal
Location
51.8937°N
-173.5698°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000n7ai
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
188
Stations Used
17
Azimuthal Gap
202.0°
Min Station Distance
0.495°
RMS Residual
0.36 sec
Last Updated
2024-09-20 16:00:57 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Atka, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 54 km SE of Atka, Alaska on July 9, 2024 at 21:29 UTC had a depth of 66.8 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 98 km SE of Atka, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000n7ai). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, July 9, 2024). M3.5 Earthquake 54 km SE of Atka, AlaskaJuly 9, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000n7ai/