2007 Tonga earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Tonga
earthquake
occurred on 9 December 2007 at 20:28:24 local time (07:28:24 UTC). NOAA rated a strength of 7.9 on the Richter scale
, and USGS
at 7.6. There were no reports of damage, death or injury.
NOAA
reported the earthquake, with a depth of 130 km, was too deep inside the Earth to generate a significant tsunami
. USGS located the earthquake at 26.156S, 177.453W or 600 km (372.8 mi) SSW of Nukualofa
, Tonga, with a magnitude of 7.6, occurring at 07:28:24 UTC.
The quake was epicentred 345km (215 miles) north of Raoul Island
, in the Kermadec Islands
, or 900km northeast of New Zealand.
On 19 November 2007, an earthquake with a strength of 6.3 hit Fiji
and Tonga, epicentred at 364 kilometres to the east of Nukualofa. It happened at 13:52 New Zealand Time (01:52 UTC) and was 551 kilometres deep.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
occurred on 9 December 2007 at 20:28:24 local time (07:28:24 UTC). NOAA rated a strength of 7.9 on the Richter scale
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
, and USGS
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
at 7.6. There were no reports of damage, death or injury.
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
reported the earthquake, with a depth of 130 km, was too deep inside the Earth to generate a significant tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
. USGS located the earthquake at 26.156S, 177.453W or 600 km (372.8 mi) SSW of Nukualofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
, Tonga, with a magnitude of 7.6, occurring at 07:28:24 UTC.
The quake was epicentred 345km (215 miles) north of Raoul Island
Raoul Island
Anvil-shaped Raoul Island , the largest and northernmost of the main Kermadec Islands, , has been the source of vigorous volcanic activity during the past several thousand years that was dominated by dacitic explosive eruptions.The area of the island, including fringing islets and rocks...
, in the Kermadec Islands
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga...
, or 900km northeast of New Zealand.
On 19 November 2007, an earthquake with a strength of 6.3 hit Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
and Tonga, epicentred at 364 kilometres to the east of Nukualofa. It happened at 13:52 New Zealand Time (01:52 UTC) and was 551 kilometres deep.