Magnitude 6.0 and 5.2 – South Sandwich Islands region

Shalow earthquake magnitude 6.0 struck  South Sandwich Islands region today at 05:53:41 UTC according to USGS. Epicenter was 138 km (85 miles) E of Visokoi Island and 281 km (174 miles) NNE of Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands (56.670°S, 25.018°W) at depth of 9.8 km (6.1 miles). About 7 minutes later another earthquake struck same region of South Sandwich Islands.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich Islands. South Georgia is 167.4 kilometres (104 mi) long and 1.4 to 37 km (0.9 to 23.0 miles) wide and is by far the largest island in the territory. The South Sandwich Islands lie about 520 kilometres (320 mi) southeast of South Georgia. The total land area of the territory is 3,903 square kilometres (1,507 sq mi).

South Sandwich Islands. 6.0 and 5.3 earthquake on Jan 22 2012. Image credit: USGS

There is no native population on the islands; the present inhabitants are the British Government Officer, Deputy Postmaster, scientists, and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases at Bird Island and at the capital, King Edward Point, as well as museum staff at nearby Grytviken.

Magnitude	6.0
Date-Time	Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 05:53:41 UTC Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 03:53:41 AM at epicenter
Location	56.670°S, 25.018°W
Depth	9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Region	SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
Distances	138 km (85 miles) E of Visokoi Island, South Sandwich Islands 281 km (174 miles) NNE of Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands 2195 km (1363 miles) ESE of STANLEY, Falkland Islands 3532 km (2194 miles) SE of BUENOS AIRES, D.F., Argentina
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 17.2 km (10.7 miles); depth +/- 5.7 km (3.5 miles)
Parameters	NST= 41, Nph=158, Dmin=777 km, Rmss=0.7 sec, Gp= 68°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=7
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

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Magnitude	5.2
Date-Time	Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 06:00:09 UTC Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 04:00:09 AM at epicenter
Location	56.648°S, 24.926°W
Depth	35 km (21.7 miles)
Region	SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
Distances	139 km (86 miles) E of Visokoi Island, South Sandwich Islands 281 km (174 miles) NNE of Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands 2195 km (1363 miles) ESE of STANLEY, Falkland Islands 3533 km (2195 miles) SE of BUENOS AIRES, D.F., Argentina
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 20 km (12.4 miles); depth +/- 2.9 km (1.8 miles)
Parameters	NST= 39, Nph= 39, Dmin=778.1 km, Rmss=0.64 sec, Gp= 68°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=5
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

 

Earthquake magnitude and location source: USGS

Featured image: USGS