Magnitude 7.6 - TONGA REGION

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Earthquake Details

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
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Earthquake Summary

Earthquake Summary Poster

Tectonic Summary

The broad-scale tectonics of the earthquake region are dominated by the relative convergence of the Pacific and Australia plates. The Pacific plate subducts westward beneath the Australia plate at the Tonga trench. At the latitude of the earthquake, the Pacific plate moves westward with respect to the interior of the Australia plate at a velocity of about 77 mm/year. The eastern edge of the broad Australia plate may itself be viewed as a collection of small plates or microplates that move with respect to each other and with respect to the Pacific plate and the Australia plate interior. In terms of numbers of earthquakes, the broad-scale Australia/ Pacific plate boundary is one of the most active in the world. Earthquakes occur on the thrust-fault boundary between the Australia and Pacific plates, within the Pacific plate, and within and on the boundaries of the small plates that together compose the eastern edge of the overall Australia plate.

Tsunami Information

• NOAA West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
• NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in these NOAA tsunami bulletins are very preliminary and may be superceded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets.

• Tsunami Information Links

Earthquake Maps

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Scientific & Technical Information

• USGS Centroid Moment Tensor Solution
• Global CMT Project Moment Tensor Solution
• USGS WPhase Moment Tensor Solution
• Historic Moment Tensor Solutions
• Phase Data
• Seismicity Cross Section
• Theoretical P-Wave Travel Times
• Energy and Broadband Solution
• Subduction Zone Geometry Analysis