Global earthquakes in the 2021 second half according to the GS RAS

Abstract

An analysis of the seismicity of the Earth in the 2021 second half at the level of strong earthquakes with magnitudes mb≥6.0 according to the Alert Service of the Geophysical Survey RAS are given. Alsoadded information about 59 earthquakes in Russia and adjacent territories, felt in the settlements of the Russian Federation. For 26 strong earthquakes within one or two days after their occurrence, Information messages were publishing; information about the focal mechanisms was calculated and presented. During the period under review, there were two strongest earthquakes on the globe with MS=8.0 (Mw=8.2) and with MS=7.8 (Mw=8.3) occurred, respectively, on July 29 off the coast of Alaska and on August 12 in the area of the South Sandwich Islands. The largest loss of life and material damage during the study period was caused by a catastrophic earthquake with MS=7.3 (Mw=7.2) that occurred on August 14 in the southwest of Haiti. As a result of the earthquake, 2248 people were killed, more than 12 thousand people were injured, 329 people were missing. The strongest earthquake in Russia was on September 20 with MS=5.9 (Mw=6.2) east of the Kuril Islands. The highest intensity of shaking in Russia (5 points) was caused by earthquakes with mb=4.9 that occurred on October 20 in the Chechen Republic and on December 15 in the water area of Lake Baikal. The global seismic energy released in the 2021 second half remains, as in the previous two years, at a reduced level, relative to the average for the last 11.5 years, which indicates a continuing seismic calm.