Seismic Activity Report: Earthquake Near Brooks Range

Date: May 26, 2025 – An earthquake was recorded at a depth of 2.1 miles (3 km), occurring 42 miles southeast of Allakaket and approximately 66 miles northwest of Rampart. This event has yet to be reviewed by a seismologist, but its coordinates indicate it took place at 66.3160°N, 151.2617°W. The region has a history of seismic activity, particularly associated with the tectonic dynamics of the Brooks Range.

Tectonic Setting of the Brooks Range

The Brooks Range experiences intraplate earthquakes linked to mountain building and crustal adjustments. A notable band of seismicity stretches from the northeast of the Brooks Range towards the Beaufort Sea. Earthquake mechanisms in the area typically involve a combination of strike-slip and normal faulting, suggesting patterns of north-northwest compression and northeast extension.

One of the most significant seismic events in the region occurred on August 12, 2018, when a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck 43 miles south of Kaktovik, marking the strongest earthquake ever registered north of the Brooks Range. This event sparked an active aftershock sequence that remains ongoing. Furthermore, since 2019, a swarm of over 9,000 earthquakes has been recorded in the Purcell Mountains, including five with magnitudes exceeding 5, although current activity levels are lower.