Project Earthquake monitoring in Muswellbrook NSW

The situation

On 23 August 2024, the communities of Muswellbrook and Denman in New South Wales experienced a moment magnitude M 4.7 earthquake, with its epicentre near the Mount Arthur Coal Mine in the Upper Hunter region.

The main shock on 23 August was strongly felt by the local community, and was felt as far as Wollongong, Tamworth and Dubbo, with over 3,600 felt reports being submitted through Geoscience Australia’s National Earthquake Alerts Centre.

There were multiple aftershocks in the 24 hours following the initial event, including a M 4.4 event on 24 August. Geoscience Australia recorded over 40 earthquakes in the Muswellbrook region between 23 August 2024 and 31 October 2024, though more events of a lower magnitude may have occurred.

Geoscience Australia into action

Within a few days of the initial earthquake, our team sent temporary Rapid Deployment Kits to the area. These small temporary earthquake monitoring kits, together with the national seismometer network, collected real-time data which was used to determine more accurate information on the frequency, location, depth and magnitude of aftershocks.

We have prepared a report detailing the findings from the Rapid Deployment Kits and our analysis of these data. Get the report here.

The data we have gathered gives us greater insight into the potential for earthquake related damage to buildings in the Muswellbrook region.

It is also an invaluable input to our ongoing work to improve our understanding of earthquake activity in Australia and our overall seismic risk profile.

The intensity of earthquake ground shaking can vary greatly over short distances. Shaking intensity is dependent on several factors, including the magnitude of the earthquake, the distance of the observer from the earthquake epicentre and the geology and topography at the observation site.

Geoscience Australia monitors, analyses and reports on significant earthquakes to alert the Australian Government, State and Territory Governments and the public about earthquakes in Australia.

We periodically produce the National Seismic Hazard Assessment, which defines variations in the level of earthquake ground shaking hazard across Australia. It provides an improved understanding of the seismic hazard and its uncertainties for Australia, allowing communities to be better prepared for future earthquakes.