Magnitude 3.6 - 30 miles S of Buldir Is
December 26, 2021 09:17:39 AKST (December 26, 2021 18:17:39 UTC)
51.9231°N 176.0997°E Depth 22.2 miles (35 km)
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist
- 31 miles (50 km) S of Buldir Island
- 65 miles (105 km) W of Kiska Volcano
- 87 miles (141 km) W of Segula Peak
- 95 miles (154 km) W of Davidof Island
- 98 miles (158 km) W of Little Sitkin Pass
- 100 miles (162 km) SE of Shemya Is
- 127 miles (205 km) W of Amchitka
- 139 miles (225 km) SE of Attu
- 149 miles (241 km) W of Semisopochnoi Island
- 218 miles (353 km) W of Mt. Gareloi
- 245 miles (397 km) W of Tanaga Volcano
- Magnitude type: Ml2
- Event type: earthquake
Tectonic Setting of the Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Arc marks the region where the Pacific Plate subducts into the mantle beneath the North American Plate. It is a seismically active region, evidenced by the thousands of earthquakes occurring each year. Since 1900, this region has hosted several major megathrust earthquakes, including the 1957 M8.6 in the Andreanof Islands, the 1965 M8.7 in the Rat Islands, the 1986 M7.9 and the 1996 M7.9 in the Andreanof Islands, and the 2003 M7.8 in the Rat Islands. Together they have ruptured the entire length of the megathrust boundary in this region. Another notable source of seismicity in the arc is the zone 6-9 miles (10-15 km) wide of intermediate-depth earthquakes within the subducting Pacific Plate, known as the Wadati-Benioff Zone. The largest recorded intermediate-depth earthquake in this region was the 2014 M7.9 Little Sitkin event. A third source of seismicity in this region are shallow earthquakes associated with volcanic processes and crustal faults within the overriding North American Plate. They occur regularly and may produce vigorous aftershock or swarm-like sequences.