| Abstract: | No earthquake had been definitely located in the interior of the Antarctic continent before that in Dronning Maud Land, which occurred on 1982 November 4, and was found by the “search” procedure of the International Seismological Centre. A further earthquake of similar magnitude (Mb 4.4) has now been located about 200 km inland from the coast of Wilkes Land, near 69°S, 123°E. The second event occurred on 1983 September 20, and was also found by the ISC search procedure, from readings at four Antarctic seismograph stations, and six farther afield. Reflected phases suggest that the focus of this earthquake is in the upper few kilometres of rock beneath the ice cap. Two later earthquakes occurred on 1984 May 19 about 400 km west of the event of 1983 September 20. They had magnitudes (Mb) of 5.0 and 4.6, and were large enough to be located by the US National Earthquake Information Service. |
