Location:

Period:

3 Jan 2010 21:48:02 - 6 Jan 2010 05:22:03 (2 days 7 hours 34 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Kavachi(21km), Unnamed(28km), Coleman Seamount(71km), Kana Keoki(88km)

Earthquakes:

M 7.0+:

M 7.1; 94 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands; (3 Jan 2010) (54km from the swarm center)

4 swarms found nearby.

2004

PS20040828.1(54.6km)

28 Aug

7 hours

5 earthquakes

2007

PS20070401.1(49.4km)

1 Apr

2 days 0 hours

20 earthquakes

2010

PS20100109.1(20.5km)

8 Jan

1 day 7 hours

8 earthquakes

PS20100119.1(18.6km)

18 Jan

1 hours

5 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm PS20100103.1: Solomon Islands Earthquake Sequence

The seismic swarm designated PS20100103.1 occurred in the Solomon Islands region, centered 104 km southeast of Gizo. It began at 21:48 on 3 January 2010 and concluded at 05:22 on 6 January 2010, spanning 55 hours and 34 minutes. During this interval, 23 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from 4.5 to 7.1 and focal depths between 10 km and 43 km.

The sequence initiated with two closely timed events of magnitudes 6.6 and 6.5, followed rapidly by a magnitude 7.1 shock at 22:36. Subsequent activity included multiple events above magnitude 5.0, culminating in a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on 5 January. Depths remained predominantly shallow to intermediate, consistent with crustal deformation along active fault systems.

This swarm reflects clustered seismicity typical of the region, where stress transfer along subduction-related structures can trigger successive ruptures without a single dominant mainshock-aftershock pattern. The events align with the broader tectonic regime of the Solomon Islands, situated at the convergent boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate, incorporating the Solomon Sea microplate. Subduction along the New Britain Trench and associated strike-slip faults drives frequent seismic activity, with the archipelago experiencing elevated strain accumulation due to oblique convergence rates of approximately 100 mm per year.

Geologically, the Solomon Islands form part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, characterized by volcanic arcs, ophiolite complexes, and active thrust faults. Historical records since 2000 document two prior swarms in the vicinity: one in 2004 and another in 2007. These episodes underscore episodic clustering rather than isolated large-magnitude releases. A notable strong event, magnitude 7.1, occurred on 3 January 2010 approximately 94 km southeast of Gizo, located 54 km from the swarm centroid, highlighting spatial overlap with the swarm area.

Such swarms provide insight into precursory stress migration and fluid involvement in fault zones, common in subduction forearc settings. Depths predominantly under 40 km suggest activity within the overriding plate and shallow megathrust interface, where interplate coupling is strong.

The Solomon Islands have a well-documented history of destructive earthquakes and tsunamis, driven by the complex plate interactions. Updated regional monitoring confirms ongoing seismic hazard, with the 2010 swarm representing a moderate-energy release episode within this dynamic environment.

References
USGS Earthquake Catalog
Global CMT Project
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center historical reports