M3.5 Earthquake 55 km SE of Adak, Alaska — December 1, 2024
2024-12-01 16:55:23 UTC (2024-12-01) · approx. 4:55 AM UTC-12 local
On December 1, 2024 at 16:55 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 55 km SE of Adak, Alaska, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 51.5374°, -176.0426°.
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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 11 days ago 94 km SSE of Adak, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 5 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Earthquake Details
-176.0426°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Adak, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 55 km SE of Adak, Alaska on December 1, 2024 at 16:55 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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 M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 3.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 94 km SSE of Adak, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nvbk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 1, 2024). M3.5 Earthquake 55 km SE of Adak, Alaska — December 1, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nvbk/