Location:

Period:

4 Mar 2017 02:58:20 - 4 Mar 2017 03:49:55 (51 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Loloru(82km), Takuan Group(91km)

Earthquakes:

13 swarms found nearby.

2001

PS20010419.1(25.5km)

19 Apr

1 day 16 hours

7 earthquakes

PS20010530.1(77.2km)

29 May

5 hours

5 earthquakes

2007

PS20070217.1(4.1km)

17 Feb

4 hours

7 earthquakes

PS20070401.2(133.5km)

1 Apr

2 days 12 hours

62 earthquakes

PS20070404.1(62.9km)

4 Apr

10 hours

5 earthquakes

2014

PS20140411.1(92.4km)

11 Apr

2 days 6 hours

19 earthquakes

PS20140419.1(139.3km)

19 Apr

2 days 20 hours

28 earthquakes

PS20140507.1(101.9km)

6 May

22 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20141207.1(168.0km)

7 Dec

1 day 11 hours

11 earthquakes

PS20141209.1(190.3km)

9 Dec

2 hours

5 earthquakes

2015

PS20150507.1(119.4km)

7 May

19 hours

10 earthquakes

2016

PS20161217.1(192.0km)

17 Dec

1 day 10 hours

29 earthquakes

2020

PS20201229.1(153.6km)

28 Dec

6 hours

5 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm PS20170304.1 Near Panguna, Papua New Guinea

On 4 March 2017, a seismic swarm designated PS20170304.1 was recorded 116 km south-southeast of Panguna on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. The sequence began at 02:58 local time and concluded at 03:49, encompassing five earthquakes within a 51-minute window. This brief but notable cluster occurred in a region characterized by complex tectonic interactions along the boundary between the Australian and Pacific plates.

The first event, at 02:58:20, registered magnitude 6.1 at a depth of 17 km. Subsequent shocks followed rapidly: a magnitude 5.2 at 03:16:31 (23 km depth), magnitude 5.0 at 03:18:39 (25 km depth), magnitude 4.3 at 03:30:03 (20 km depth), and a final magnitude 5.0 at 03:49:55 (10 km depth). Depths remained shallow throughout, consistent with activity in the upper crust of this subduction-influenced setting. The progression suggests a rapid release of accumulated strain, typical of swarm behavior where multiple events occur without a single dominant mainshock.

Papua New Guinea lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where convergence of the Australian, Pacific, and several smaller plates generates frequent seismicity and volcanism. Bougainville Island forms part of the Solomon Islands arc system, influenced by the New Britain Trench and associated fault zones. Historical records indicate persistent earthquake activity, with the area experiencing both shallow crustal events and deeper Wadati-Benioff zone seismicity. The Panguna region, known for its mineral deposits, sits amid this dynamic environment shaped by ongoing plate collision and arc volcanism.

Since 2000, twelve seismic swarms have been documented in the vicinity. Earlier episodes occurred in 2001 (two swarms), 2007 (three swarms), 2014 (five swarms), 2015 (one swarm), and 2016 (one swarm). These clusters highlight recurring patterns of episodic activity, potentially linked to fluid migration or stress transfer along local fault networks in the arc setting.

Analysis of PS20170304.1 provides insight into swarm dynamics in this tectonically active zone. The tight temporal spacing and moderate magnitudes point to a localized stress adjustment rather than a prolonged aftershock sequence. Such events contribute to the broader understanding of seismic hazard in Papua New Guinea, where monitoring helps inform risk assessment for nearby communities and infrastructure.

References
USGS Earthquake Catalog (historical seismicity data for Papua New Guinea)
Global CMT Project (tectonic setting of the Solomon Islands arc)
SeismoSight internal classification records (swarm parameters)