Strong Quake Strikes Baffin Bay

Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake Occurred at Baffin Bay off the NW Coast of Greenland

FEWW Moderators believe magnitude of the seismicity most likely intensified as a result of icemelt in the region.

Other examples of climate-intensified natural events would be posted on this blog when they occur.

Location of earthquake is marked on the Bathymetric map of the Arctic Ocean. Original Map: NOAA

Details of the Earthquake

• Magnitude: 6.1
• Date-Time:
  • Tuesday, July 07, 2009 at 19:11:45 UTC
  • Tuesday, July 07, 2009 at 02:11:45 PM at epicenter

• Location: 75.325°N, 72.312°W
• Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
• Region: BAFFIN BAY
• Distances:
  • 170 km (105 miles) SW of Qaanaaq (Thule), Greenland
  • 315 km (195 miles) ESE of Grise Fiord, Nunavut, Canada
  • 1455 km (910 miles) NNW of NUUK (GODTHAB), Greenland
  • 3330 km (2070 miles) N of Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 3.8 km (2.4 miles); depth fixed by location program
• Parameters:  NST=216, Nph=216, Dmin=>999 km, Rmss=0.98 sec, Gp= 58°, M-type=centroid moment magnitude (Mw), Version=T
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID us2009iubh

Earthquake Location:

10-degree Map Centered at 75°N,80°W

Seismic Hazard Map

Historic Seismicity

Related Links:

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes

• The 1933 November 20 (M_s= 7.3) Baffin Bay earthquake