Location

2009/08/19 18:19:27 61.21 -150.81 58.0 5.00 Alaska

Arrival Times (from USGS)

Arrival time list

Felt Map

USGS Felt map for this earthquake

USGS Felt reports main page

Focal Mechanism

 USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
 ENS  2009/08/19 18:19:27:0  61.21 -150.81  58.0 5.0 Alaska
 
 Stations used:
   AK.BMR AK.CAST AK.CHUM AK.DIV AK.EYAK AK.MCK AK.PPLA AK.SAW 
   AK.SSN AK.TRF AT.PMR AT.SVW2 IU.COLA 
 
 Filtering commands used:
   hp c 0.015 n 3
   lp c 0.05 n 3
 
 Best Fitting Double Couple
  Mo = 3.02e+23 dyne-cm
  Mw = 4.92 
  Z  = 69 km
  Plane   Strike  Dip  Rake
   NP1      332    80   113
   NP2       85    25    25
  Principal Axes:
   Axis    Value   Plunge  Azimuth
    T   3.02e+23     50     268
    N   0.00e+00     23     148
    P  -3.02e+23     31      43

 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
    Component   Value
       Mxx    -1.17e+23
       Mxy    -1.05e+23
       Mxz    -1.03e+23
       Myy     1.93e+22
       Myz    -2.40e+23
       Mzz     9.78e+22
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                     --------------                  
                 ##--------------------              
              #######---------------------           
             #########---------------------          
           #############------------   ------        
          ###############----------- P -------       
         #################----------   --------      
        ###################---------------------     
        ####################--------------------     
       ######################--------------------    
       #########   ###########-------------------    
       ######### T ############-----------------#    
       -########   #############---------------##    
        #########################--------------#     
        --########################-----------###     
         --########################---------###      
          ---######################-------####       
           ----#####################----#####        
             -----#########################          
              ------------###--------#####           
                 ---------------------#              
                     --------------                  
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
 Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
      R          T          P
  9.78e+22  -1.03e+23   2.40e+23 
 -1.03e+23  -1.17e+23   1.05e+23 
  2.40e+23   1.05e+23   1.93e+22 


Details of the solution is found at

http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20090819181927/index.html
        

Preferred Solution

The preferred solution from an analysis of the surface-wave spectral amplitude radiation pattern, waveform inversion and first motion observations is

      STK = 85
      DIP = 25
     RAKE = 25
       MW = 4.92
       HS = 69.0

The waveform inversion is preferred. The AEIC Mw is slightly larger, which is related to differences in the velocity model. Out WUS model probably has slightly smaller velocities at this source depth than the AEIC model. When we can this using the 0.02 - 0.10 Hz band one nodal plane was vertical and essentially striking NS. Upon using the 0.015 - 0.05 Hz band, this nodal plane strikes a bit west of north. The plane dipping slightly to the south is not in the direction for shallow subduction in this region.

Moment Tensor Comparison

The following compares this source inversion to others
SLU
AEIC
 USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
 ENS  2009/08/19 18:19:27:0  61.21 -150.81  58.0 5.0 Alaska
 
 Stations used:
   AK.BMR AK.CAST AK.CHUM AK.DIV AK.EYAK AK.MCK AK.PPLA AK.SAW 
   AK.SSN AK.TRF AT.PMR AT.SVW2 IU.COLA 
 
 Filtering commands used:
   hp c 0.015 n 3
   lp c 0.05 n 3
 
 Best Fitting Double Couple
  Mo = 3.02e+23 dyne-cm
  Mw = 4.92 
  Z  = 69 km
  Plane   Strike  Dip  Rake
   NP1      332    80   113
   NP2       85    25    25
  Principal Axes:
   Axis    Value   Plunge  Azimuth
    T   3.02e+23     50     268
    N   0.00e+00     23     148
    P  -3.02e+23     31      43

 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
    Component   Value
       Mxx    -1.17e+23
       Mxy    -1.05e+23
       Mxz    -1.03e+23
       Myy     1.93e+22
       Myz    -2.40e+23
       Mzz     9.78e+22
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                     --------------                  
                 ##--------------------              
              #######---------------------           
             #########---------------------          
           #############------------   ------        
          ###############----------- P -------       
         #################----------   --------      
        ###################---------------------     
        ####################--------------------     
       ######################--------------------    
       #########   ###########-------------------    
       ######### T ############-----------------#    
       -########   #############---------------##    
        #########################--------------#     
        --########################-----------###     
         --########################---------###      
          ---######################-------####       
           ----#####################----#####        
             -----#########################          
              ------------###--------#####           
                 ---------------------#              
                     --------------                  
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
 Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
      R          T          P
  9.78e+22  -1.03e+23   2.40e+23 
 -1.03e+23  -1.17e+23   1.05e+23 
  2.40e+23   1.05e+23   1.93e+22 


Details of the solution is found at

http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20090819181927/index.html
	

Moment tensor inversion summary for event 2009/08/19 18:19

Date: 2009/08/19
Time: 18:19 (UTC)
Region: Cook Inlet Region of Alaska
Mw=5.1

Location:

Lat.  61.2286;  Lon.  -150.8254; Depth   70 km 
(Best-fitting depth from moment tensor inversion)

Solution quality: good;
Number of stations = 7

Best Double Couple:

         strike    dip    rake 
Plane 1:  174.0   87.0  -104.0
Plane 2:   72.3   14.3   -12.1

Moment Tensor Parameters:

Mo = 4.23092e+23 dyn-cm
Mxx = -0.19; Mxy = -0.96; Mxz = -0.48
Myy =  0.62; Myz = -4.05; Mzz = -0.43


Principal Axes:

     value   azimuth   plunge
T:    4.22   277.03   40.44
N:    0.01   174.77   14.00
P:   -4.23    69.71   46.19


Waveform Inversion

The focal mechanism was determined using broadband seismic waveforms. The location of the event and the and stations used for the waveform inversion are shown in the next figure.
Location of broadband stations used for waveform inversion

The program wvfgrd96 was used with good traces observed at short distance to determine the focal mechanism, depth and seismic moment. This technique requires a high quality signal and well determined velocity model for the Green functions. To the extent that these are the quality data, this type of mechanism should be preferred over the radiation pattern technique which requires the separate step of defining the pressure and tension quadrants and the correct strike.

The observed and predicted traces are filtered using the following gsac commands:

hp c 0.015 n 3
lp c 0.05 n 3
The results of this grid search from 0.5 to 19 km depth are as follow:

           DEPTH  STK   DIP  RAKE   MW    FIT
WVFGRD96    1.0     0    45   -85   4.20 0.2219
WVFGRD96    2.0     0    45   -90   4.29 0.2695
WVFGRD96    3.0     0    40   -85   4.35 0.2709
WVFGRD96    4.0    10    40   -70   4.37 0.2474
WVFGRD96    5.0    35    70     0   4.34 0.2416
WVFGRD96    6.0    35    70     5   4.37 0.2458
WVFGRD96    7.0    40    70    15   4.38 0.2520
WVFGRD96    8.0    40    65    15   4.41 0.2555
WVFGRD96    9.0    40    65    15   4.43 0.2620
WVFGRD96   10.0    40    65    15   4.44 0.2668
WVFGRD96   11.0    40    65    15   4.45 0.2725
WVFGRD96   12.0    40    65    15   4.45 0.2786
WVFGRD96   13.0    40    65    20   4.47 0.2864
WVFGRD96   14.0    45    60    20   4.46 0.2956
WVFGRD96   15.0    45    60    20   4.46 0.3055
WVFGRD96   16.0    45    60    20   4.47 0.3159
WVFGRD96   17.0    45    60    20   4.48 0.3268
WVFGRD96   18.0    45    55    15   4.48 0.3383
WVFGRD96   19.0    45    55    15   4.49 0.3503
WVFGRD96   20.0    45    55    15   4.50 0.3626
WVFGRD96   21.0    45    50    10   4.50 0.3733
WVFGRD96   22.0    50    45    10   4.50 0.3869
WVFGRD96   23.0    50    45    10   4.51 0.4011
WVFGRD96   24.0    50    45    10   4.52 0.4149
WVFGRD96   25.0    50    40     5   4.52 0.4294
WVFGRD96   26.0    55    35     5   4.53 0.4445
WVFGRD96   27.0    55    35     5   4.54 0.4599
WVFGRD96   28.0    55    35     5   4.55 0.4749
WVFGRD96   29.0    55    35     5   4.56 0.4896
WVFGRD96   30.0    55    35     5   4.57 0.5038
WVFGRD96   31.0    55    35     5   4.58 0.5176
WVFGRD96   32.0    55    35     5   4.59 0.5306
WVFGRD96   33.0    60    35     5   4.60 0.5430
WVFGRD96   34.0    60    35     5   4.60 0.5546
WVFGRD96   35.0    60    35     5   4.61 0.5653
WVFGRD96   36.0    60    35     5   4.62 0.5748
WVFGRD96   37.0    60    40    10   4.63 0.5832
WVFGRD96   38.0    60    40    10   4.63 0.5918
WVFGRD96   39.0    60    40    10   4.64 0.5991
WVFGRD96   40.0    65    25    10   4.75 0.5999
WVFGRD96   41.0    65    25    10   4.76 0.6109
WVFGRD96   42.0    65    25    10   4.77 0.6211
WVFGRD96   43.0    65    25    10   4.78 0.6307
WVFGRD96   44.0    65    30    10   4.79 0.6400
WVFGRD96   45.0    65    30    10   4.79 0.6490
WVFGRD96   46.0    65    30    10   4.80 0.6574
WVFGRD96   47.0    65    30    10   4.81 0.6652
WVFGRD96   48.0    65    30    10   4.81 0.6726
WVFGRD96   49.0    65    30    10   4.82 0.6794
WVFGRD96   50.0    70    25    15   4.82 0.6860
WVFGRD96   51.0    70    25    15   4.83 0.6920
WVFGRD96   52.0    70    25    15   4.83 0.6978
WVFGRD96   53.0    75    25    15   4.84 0.7036
WVFGRD96   54.0    75    25    15   4.85 0.7093
WVFGRD96   55.0    75    25    15   4.86 0.7144
WVFGRD96   56.0    75    25    15   4.86 0.7190
WVFGRD96   57.0    75    25    15   4.87 0.7229
WVFGRD96   58.0    80    25    20   4.87 0.7264
WVFGRD96   59.0    80    25    20   4.88 0.7306
WVFGRD96   60.0    80    25    20   4.88 0.7339
WVFGRD96   61.0    80    25    20   4.89 0.7365
WVFGRD96   62.0    80    25    20   4.89 0.7384
WVFGRD96   63.0    80    25    20   4.90 0.7405
WVFGRD96   64.0    80    25    20   4.90 0.7424
WVFGRD96   65.0    80    25    20   4.90 0.7435
WVFGRD96   66.0    85    25    25   4.91 0.7443
WVFGRD96   67.0    85    25    25   4.91 0.7452
WVFGRD96   68.0    85    25    25   4.92 0.7452
WVFGRD96   69.0    85    25    25   4.92 0.7452
WVFGRD96   70.0    85    25    25   4.92 0.7444
WVFGRD96   71.0    85    25    25   4.93 0.7435
WVFGRD96   72.0    90    25    25   4.93 0.7423
WVFGRD96   73.0    90    25    25   4.94 0.7407
WVFGRD96   74.0    90    25    25   4.94 0.7390
WVFGRD96   75.0    90    25    25   4.94 0.7372
WVFGRD96   76.0    90    25    25   4.95 0.7344
WVFGRD96   77.0    90    25    25   4.95 0.7317
WVFGRD96   78.0    90    25    25   4.95 0.7291
WVFGRD96   79.0    90    25    25   4.96 0.7252
WVFGRD96   80.0    90    25    25   4.96 0.7221
WVFGRD96   81.0    90    25    25   4.96 0.7185
WVFGRD96   82.0    90    25    25   4.96 0.7143
WVFGRD96   83.0    95    25    30   4.96 0.7104
WVFGRD96   84.0    95    25    30   4.97 0.7063
WVFGRD96   85.0    95    25    30   4.97 0.7014
WVFGRD96   86.0    95    25    30   4.97 0.6973
WVFGRD96   87.0    95    25    30   4.97 0.6928
WVFGRD96   88.0   100    25    30   4.98 0.6876
WVFGRD96   89.0   100    25    30   4.98 0.6835
WVFGRD96   90.0   100    25    30   4.98 0.6781
WVFGRD96   91.0   100    25    30   4.98 0.6738
WVFGRD96   92.0   100    25    30   4.99 0.6687
WVFGRD96   93.0   100    25    30   4.99 0.6639
WVFGRD96   94.0   100    25    30   4.99 0.6587
WVFGRD96   95.0   100    25    30   4.99 0.6536
WVFGRD96   96.0   100    25    30   4.99 0.6483
WVFGRD96   97.0   100    25    30   4.99 0.6434
WVFGRD96   98.0   100    25    30   5.00 0.6381
WVFGRD96   99.0   100    25    30   5.00 0.6332

The best solution is

WVFGRD96   69.0    85    25    25   4.92 0.7452

The mechanism correspond to the best fit is
Figure 1. Waveform inversion focal mechanism

The best fit as a function of depth is given in the following figure:

Figure 2. Depth sensitivity for waveform mechanism

The comparison of the observed and predicted waveforms is given in the next figure. The red traces are the observed and the blue are the predicted. Each observed-predicted componnet is plotted to the same scale and peak amplitudes are indicated by the numbers to the left of each trace. The number in black at the rightr of each predicted traces it the time shift required for maximum correlation between the observed and predicted traces. This time shift is required because the synthetics are not computed at exactly the same distance as the observed and because the velocity model used in the predictions may not be perfect. A positive time shift indicates that the prediction is too fast and should be delayed to match the observed trace (shift to the right in this figure). A negative value indicates that the prediction is too slow. The bandpass filter used in the processing and for the display was

hp c 0.015 n 3
lp c 0.05 n 3
Figure 3. Waveform comparison for selected depth
Focal mechanism sensitivity at the preferred depth. The red color indicates a very good fit to thewavefroms. Each solution is plotted as a vector at a given value of strike and dip with the angle of the vector representing the rake angle, measured, with respect to the upward vertical (N) in the figure.

Discussion

The Future

Should the national backbone of the USGS Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) be implemented with an interstation separation of 300 km, it is very likely that an earthquake such as this would have been recorded at distances on the order of 100-200 km. This means that the closest station would have information on source depth and mechanism that was lacking here.

Acknowledgements

Dr. Harley Benz, USGS, provided the USGS USNSN digital data. The digital data used in this study were provided by Natural Resources Canada through their AUTODRM site http://www.seismo.nrcan.gc.ca/nwfa/autodrm/autodrm_req_e.php, and IRIS using their BUD interface.

Thanks also to the many seismic network operators whose dedication make this effort possible: University of Alaska, University of Washington, Oregon State University, University of Utah, Montana Bureas of Mines, UC Berkely, Caltech, UC San Diego, Saint L ouis University, Universityof Memphis, Lamont Doehrty Earth Observatory, Boston College, the Iris stations and the Transportable Array of EarthScope.

Velocity Model

The WUS used for the waveform synthetic seismograms and for the surface wave eigenfunctions and dispersion is as follows:

MODEL.01
Model after     8 iterations
ISOTROPIC
KGS
FLAT EARTH
1-D
CONSTANT VELOCITY
LINE08
LINE09
LINE10
LINE11
      H(KM)   VP(KM/S)   VS(KM/S) RHO(GM/CC)         QP         QS       ETAP       ETAS      FREFP      FREFS
     1.9000     3.4065     2.0089     2.2150  0.302E-02  0.679E-02   0.00       0.00       1.00       1.00    
     6.1000     5.5445     3.2953     2.6089  0.349E-02  0.784E-02   0.00       0.00       1.00       1.00    
    13.0000     6.2708     3.7396     2.7812  0.212E-02  0.476E-02   0.00       0.00       1.00       1.00    
    19.0000     6.4075     3.7680     2.8223  0.111E-02  0.249E-02   0.00       0.00       1.00       1.00    
     0.0000     7.9000     4.6200     3.2760  0.164E-10  0.370E-10   0.00       0.00       1.00       1.00    

Quality Control

Here we tabulate the reasons for not using certain digital data sets

The following stations did not have a valid response files:

DATE=Wed Aug 19 14:10:13 MDT 2009

Last Changed 2009/08/19