Location:

Period:

15 May 2026 02:13:02 - 15 May 2026 22:51:57 (20 hours 38 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Martin(16km), Mageik(20km), Novarupta(24km), Trident(28km), Griggs(29km), Katmai(36km), Unnamed(45km), Snowy Mountain(52km), Denison(67km), Steller(71km), Ukinrek Maars(73km), Kukak(74km), Ugashik-Peulik(74km), Kaguyak(97km)

Earthquakes:

11 swarms found nearby.

2019

VS20190905.1(29.0km)

4 Sep

23 days 3 hours

423 earthquakes

2020

VS20200403.1(21.5km)

2 Apr

4 days 11 hours

61 earthquakes

2022

VS20220902.1(23.5km)

1 Sep

6 days 9 hours

108 earthquakes

VS20220922.1(26.5km)

21 Sep

1 day 4 hours

54 earthquakes

VS20221112.1(19.7km)

11 Nov

73 days 1 hours

1277 earthquakes

2023

VS20230127.1(18.0km)

26 Jan

109 days 4 hours

2489 earthquakes

VS20230518.1(19.1km)

17 May

2 days 18 hours

45 earthquakes

VS20230524.1(22.2km)

23 May

98 days 12 hours

3637 earthquakes

VS20230903.1(21.3km)

2 Sep

14 days 6 hours

242 earthquakes

VS20230923.1(22.0km)

22 Sep

8 days 4 hours

121 earthquakes

VS20231022.1(29.5km)

21 Oct

6 days 8 hours

82 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm S20260515.1 Near King Salmon, Alaska

SeismoSight detected Swarm S20260515.1 on 15 May 2026, approximately 79 km southeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The sequence began at 02:13 and concluded at 22:51, spanning 20 hours and 38 minutes. During this period, 39 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from -0.9 to 2.7 and depths predominantly between 0 and 13 km, except for one event at 125 km.

The swarm featured an initial cluster of events with magnitudes up to 2.7 within the first few minutes, followed by numerous smaller tremors, many registering negative magnitudes. Later activity included isolated events of magnitude 1.8 and 1.2, indicating a gradual decline in intensity toward the end of the sequence. Depths remained mostly shallow, consistent with typical crustal seismicity in the area.

This event aligns with historical patterns in the region. Since 2000, 11 swarms have occurred near King Salmon, with notable increases in frequency: one each in 2019 and 2020, three in 2022, and six in 2023. Such swarms often reflect episodic stress release without a dominant mainshock.

The location lies on the Alaska Peninsula within the Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate converges with the North American Plate at rates of approximately 6–7 cm per year. This tectonic setting drives frequent seismic and volcanic activity across the Pacific Ring of Fire. The area's geology features sedimentary basins, volcanic arcs, and fault systems that accommodate oblique subduction, leading to both shallow crustal events and deeper Wadati-Benioff zone seismicity.

King Salmon sits near the boundary of the Bristol Bay region and the Aleutian Range, an area influenced by Cenozoic volcanism and deformation. Historical records document numerous moderate earthquakes, underscoring the zone's persistent activity. Swarms like S20260515.1 contribute to understanding fluid migration or magmatic processes that may precede larger events or volcanic unrest.

Ongoing monitoring by networks such as the Alaska Earthquake Center remains essential for assessing evolving hazards in this dynamic environment.

References

SeismoSight internal swarm classification data
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program – Alaska regional tectonics
Alaska Earthquake Center – historical seismicity reports