Sciency Thoughts: East New Britain

Tuesday, 9 August 2022

Magnitude 5.6 Earthquake beneath East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.6 Earthquake at a depth of 35.0 km roughly 149 km to the southwest of the city of Kokopo in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, slightly after 3.35 pm local time (slightly after 5.35 am GMT) on Monday 8 August 2022. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, but people have reported feeling it locally.

The approximate location of the 8 August 2022 East New Britain Earthquake. USGS.

New Britain is located on the South Bismarck Plate, north of the Solomon Sea Plate, which is being subducted beneath it. The plates do not pass over one-another smoothly, but constantly stick together then break apart as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process.

The subduction of the Solomon Sea Plate beneath New Britain. Oregon State University.

Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake on the south coast of East New Britain.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake at a depth of 25.2 km roughly 49 km on the south coast of East New Britain Province, Papua New Gunea, slightly before 5.10 am local time on Thursday 26 August 2020 (slightly before 7.10 pm on Wednesday 26 February GMT). There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, but it is likely to have been felt locally.

The aproximate location of the 26 August 2020 East New Britain Earthquake. USGS.

The subduction of the Solomon Sea Plate beneath New Britain. Oregon State University.

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.

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