A confirmed earthquake in continental Antarctica

• Published in: Geophysical Journal International
• Main Authors: Adams, R. D., Hughes, A. A., Zhang, B. M.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1985
• Subjects: Research note; Antarctic; The Antarctic; East Antarctica; Dronning Maud Land; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://gji.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/81/2/489; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1985.tb06416.x

An earthquake of magnitude ( M b ) 4.5 has been located by the International Seismological Centre, near 81°S, 37°E in the continental platform of east Antarctica, about 1200 km from the coast of Dronning Maud Land, and 500 km from the Pole of Inaccessibility. The event was found by the Centre's ‘search’ procedure, which is undertaken with a deliberate delay of about two years. It occurred on 1982 November 4, and its position is well determined from five stations in Antarctica, and four farther afield. This is the first earthquake definitely located in the interior of the Antarctic continent, although there have been some earlier less well established claims, and other earthquakes have occurred near the coast, or associated with areas of volcanism or ice movement.