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Svalbard and Jan Mayen sit on the Arctic mid-ocean ridge, where seafloor spreading produces steady moderate earthquakes. This page pulls real records for Svalbard: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Svalbard.
Earthquake risk in Svalbard - FAQ
Is Svalbard at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 16 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.7 in 1992.
What was the biggest earthquake in Svalbard?
The strongest earthquake on record near Svalbard is M6.7, in 1992 (230 km W of Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen), from USGS.
Does Svalbard get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 2011 (most recently 2011) within 500 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Svalbard?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.