Location

Location ANSS

2021/12/21 22:42:14 60.122 -153.212 152.6 5.9 Alaska

Focal Mechanism

 USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
 ENS  2021/12/21 22:42:14:0  60.12 -153.21 152.6 5.9 Alaska
 
 Stations used:
   AK.CAST AK.FIRE AK.GHO AK.GLI AK.HIN AK.K20K AK.KNK AK.L18K 
   AK.L20K AK.M16K AK.N15K AK.N18K AK.N19K AK.O18K AK.O19K 
   AK.P16K AK.P17K AK.P23K AK.PWL AK.Q19K AK.RC01 AK.SAW 
   AK.SCM AK.SKN AK.SLK AK.SWD AT.PMR AV.ACH AV.ILS AV.RED 
   AV.STLK II.KDAK 
 
 Filtering commands used:
   cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
   rtr
   taper w 0.1
   hp c 0.03 n 3 
   lp c 0.06 n 3 
 
 Best Fitting Double Couple
  Mo = 7.76e+24 dyne-cm
  Mw = 5.86 
  Z  = 158 km
  Plane   Strike  Dip  Rake
   NP1       75    75    30
   NP2      336    61   163
  Principal Axes:
   Axis    Value   Plunge  Azimuth
    T   7.76e+24     32     299
    N   0.00e+00     57      99
    P  -7.76e+24      9     203

 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
    Component   Value
       Mxx    -5.06e+24
       Mxy    -5.14e+24
       Mxz     2.80e+24
       Myy     3.12e+24
       Myz    -2.55e+24
       Mzz     1.94e+24
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                     --------------                  
                 ######----------------              
              ###########-----------------           
             ###############---------------          
           ##################----------------        
          #####################---------------       
         #####   ###############---------------      
        ###### T ################---------------     
        ######   #################-------------#     
       ############################----------####    
       #############################-----########    
       #############################-############    
       #########################-----############    
        #################------------###########     
        -----------------------------###########     
         -----------------------------#########      
          ----------------------------########       
           ---------------------------#######        
             -------------------------#####          
              -----   ---------------#####           
                 -- P ---------------##              
                      -------------                  
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
 Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
      R          T          P
  1.94e+24   2.80e+24   2.55e+24 
  2.80e+24  -5.06e+24   5.14e+24 
  2.55e+24   5.14e+24   3.12e+24 


Details of the solution is found at

http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20211221224214/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 = 75
      DIP = 75
     RAKE = 30
       MW = 5.86
       HS = 158.0

The NDK file is 20211221224214.ndk The waveform inversion is preferred.

Moment Tensor Comparison

The following compares this source inversion to others
SLU
USGSW
 USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
 ENS  2021/12/21 22:42:14:0  60.12 -153.21 152.6 5.9 Alaska
 
 Stations used:
   AK.CAST AK.FIRE AK.GHO AK.GLI AK.HIN AK.K20K AK.KNK AK.L18K 
   AK.L20K AK.M16K AK.N15K AK.N18K AK.N19K AK.O18K AK.O19K 
   AK.P16K AK.P17K AK.P23K AK.PWL AK.Q19K AK.RC01 AK.SAW 
   AK.SCM AK.SKN AK.SLK AK.SWD AT.PMR AV.ACH AV.ILS AV.RED 
   AV.STLK II.KDAK 
 
 Filtering commands used:
   cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
   rtr
   taper w 0.1
   hp c 0.03 n 3 
   lp c 0.06 n 3 
 
 Best Fitting Double Couple
  Mo = 7.76e+24 dyne-cm
  Mw = 5.86 
  Z  = 158 km
  Plane   Strike  Dip  Rake
   NP1       75    75    30
   NP2      336    61   163
  Principal Axes:
   Axis    Value   Plunge  Azimuth
    T   7.76e+24     32     299
    N   0.00e+00     57      99
    P  -7.76e+24      9     203

 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
    Component   Value
       Mxx    -5.06e+24
       Mxy    -5.14e+24
       Mxz     2.80e+24
       Myy     3.12e+24
       Myz    -2.55e+24
       Mzz     1.94e+24
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                     --------------                  
                 ######----------------              
              ###########-----------------           
             ###############---------------          
           ##################----------------        
          #####################---------------       
         #####   ###############---------------      
        ###### T ################---------------     
        ######   #################-------------#     
       ############################----------####    
       #############################-----########    
       #############################-############    
       #########################-----############    
        #################------------###########     
        -----------------------------###########     
         -----------------------------#########      
          ----------------------------########       
           ---------------------------#######        
             -------------------------#####          
              -----   ---------------#####           
                 -- P ---------------##              
                      -------------                  
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
 Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
      R          T          P
  1.94e+24   2.80e+24   2.55e+24 
  2.80e+24  -5.06e+24   5.14e+24 
  2.55e+24   5.14e+24   3.12e+24 


Details of the solution is found at

http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20211221224214/index.html
	
W-phase Moment Tensor (Mww)
Moment 8.727e+17 N-m
Magnitude 5.89 Mww
Depth 150.5 km
Percent DC 97%
Half Duration 2.29 s
Catalog US
Data Source US 3
Contributor US 3

Nodal Planes
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 336° 61° 160°
NP2 76° 73° 31°

Principal Axes
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 8.664e+17 N-m 34° 299°
N 0.125e+17 N-m 55° 102°
P -8.789e+17 N-m 8° 204°

        

Magnitudes

ML Magnitude


(a) ML computed using the IASPEI formula for Horizontal components; (b) ML residuals computed using a modified IASPEI formula that accounts for path specific attenuation; the values used for the trimmed mean are indicated. The ML relation used for each figure is given at the bottom of each plot.


(a) ML computed using the IASPEI formula for Vertical components (research); (b) ML residuals computed using a modified IASPEI formula that accounts for path specific attenuation; the values used for the trimmed mean are indicated. The ML relation used for each figure is given at the bottom of each plot.

Context

The next figure presents the focal mechanism for this earthquake (red) in the context of other events (blue) in the SLU Moment Tensor Catalog which are within ± 0.5 degrees of the new event. This comparison is shown in the left panel of the figure. The right panel shows the inferred direction of maximum compressive stress and the type of faulting (green is strike-slip, red is normal, blue is thrust; oblique is shown by a combination of colors).

Waveform Inversion using wvfgrd96

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:

cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3 
lp c 0.06 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    2.0   330    55   -35   4.89 0.1555
WVFGRD96    4.0   335    85   -15   4.91 0.1702
WVFGRD96    6.0   160    80    25   4.97 0.1821
WVFGRD96    8.0   160    80    30   5.04 0.1955
WVFGRD96   10.0   160    80    30   5.07 0.2039
WVFGRD96   12.0   160    80    25   5.09 0.2075
WVFGRD96   14.0   160    80    25   5.11 0.2092
WVFGRD96   16.0   160    85    25   5.13 0.2094
WVFGRD96   18.0   155    90    25   5.14 0.2083
WVFGRD96   20.0   155    90    25   5.16 0.2049
WVFGRD96   22.0   155    90    25   5.17 0.2007
WVFGRD96   24.0   335    90   -20   5.19 0.1948
WVFGRD96   26.0   335    90   -20   5.20 0.1878
WVFGRD96   28.0   335    90   -20   5.21 0.1795
WVFGRD96   30.0   150    55   -25   5.21 0.1701
WVFGRD96   32.0   150    55   -25   5.22 0.1633
WVFGRD96   34.0   150    55   -25   5.23 0.1546
WVFGRD96   36.0   150    55   -20   5.24 0.1446
WVFGRD96   38.0    85    80    25   5.27 0.1346
WVFGRD96   40.0   265    65    30   5.33 0.1321
WVFGRD96   42.0   260    65    20   5.35 0.1305
WVFGRD96   44.0   260    70    20   5.36 0.1296
WVFGRD96   46.0   255    75    15   5.38 0.1298
WVFGRD96   48.0   255    75    10   5.40 0.1311
WVFGRD96   50.0   255    80   -15   5.43 0.1332
WVFGRD96   52.0   255    80   -15   5.45 0.1374
WVFGRD96   54.0   255    80   -15   5.47 0.1422
WVFGRD96   56.0   255    80   -15   5.49 0.1473
WVFGRD96   58.0   255    80   -15   5.50 0.1537
WVFGRD96   60.0   255    80   -15   5.52 0.1605
WVFGRD96   62.0   255    80   -15   5.54 0.1682
WVFGRD96   64.0   255    80   -10   5.55 0.1784
WVFGRD96   66.0   255    80   -10   5.57 0.1895
WVFGRD96   68.0   255    80   -10   5.58 0.2014
WVFGRD96   70.0   255    80   -10   5.60 0.2143
WVFGRD96   72.0   255    80   -10   5.62 0.2293
WVFGRD96   74.0   255    85   -10   5.63 0.2465
WVFGRD96   76.0   255    85   -10   5.65 0.2650
WVFGRD96   78.0    70    90    10   5.66 0.2843
WVFGRD96   80.0   250    90   -10   5.67 0.3042
WVFGRD96   82.0    70    85    10   5.68 0.3234
WVFGRD96   84.0    70    85    10   5.69 0.3408
WVFGRD96   86.0    70    85    10   5.70 0.3564
WVFGRD96   88.0    70    80    15   5.71 0.3698
WVFGRD96   90.0    70    80    15   5.72 0.3829
WVFGRD96   92.0    70    80    15   5.73 0.4039
WVFGRD96   94.0    70    75    20   5.74 0.4278
WVFGRD96   96.0    70    75    20   5.75 0.4536
WVFGRD96   98.0    70    75    20   5.76 0.4799
WVFGRD96  100.0    70    75    20   5.77 0.5068
WVFGRD96  102.0    70    75    20   5.78 0.5320
WVFGRD96  104.0    70    75    25   5.79 0.5553
WVFGRD96  106.0    70    75    25   5.80 0.5738
WVFGRD96  108.0    70    75    25   5.80 0.5862
WVFGRD96  110.0    70    75    25   5.81 0.5943
WVFGRD96  112.0    70    75    25   5.81 0.6011
WVFGRD96  114.0    70    75    25   5.81 0.6071
WVFGRD96  116.0    70    75    25   5.82 0.6129
WVFGRD96  118.0    70    75    25   5.82 0.6182
WVFGRD96  120.0    70    75    25   5.83 0.6234
WVFGRD96  122.0    70    75    25   5.83 0.6281
WVFGRD96  124.0    75    70    30   5.83 0.6324
WVFGRD96  126.0    75    70    30   5.83 0.6365
WVFGRD96  128.0    75    70    30   5.83 0.6397
WVFGRD96  130.0    75    70    30   5.84 0.6436
WVFGRD96  132.0    75    70    30   5.84 0.6468
WVFGRD96  134.0    75    70    30   5.84 0.6494
WVFGRD96  136.0    75    70    30   5.84 0.6519
WVFGRD96  138.0    75    70    30   5.84 0.6538
WVFGRD96  140.0    75    75    30   5.85 0.6554
WVFGRD96  142.0    75    75    30   5.85 0.6571
WVFGRD96  144.0    75    75    30   5.85 0.6587
WVFGRD96  146.0    75    75    30   5.85 0.6602
WVFGRD96  148.0    75    75    30   5.85 0.6613
WVFGRD96  150.0    75    75    30   5.86 0.6621
WVFGRD96  152.0    75    75    30   5.86 0.6628
WVFGRD96  154.0    75    75    30   5.86 0.6635
WVFGRD96  156.0    75    75    30   5.86 0.6639
WVFGRD96  158.0    75    75    30   5.86 0.6640
WVFGRD96  160.0    75    75    30   5.87 0.6638
WVFGRD96  162.0    75    75    30   5.87 0.6636
WVFGRD96  164.0    75    75    30   5.87 0.6629
WVFGRD96  166.0    75    75    30   5.87 0.6619
WVFGRD96  168.0    75    75    30   5.87 0.6609
WVFGRD96  170.0    75    75    30   5.87 0.6601

The best solution is

WVFGRD96  158.0    75    75    30   5.86 0.6640

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 component is plotted to the same scale and peak amplitudes are indicated by the numbers to the left of each trace. A pair of numbers is given in black at the right of each predicted traces. The upper number 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 lower number gives the percentage of variance reduction to characterize the individual goodness of fit (100% indicates a perfect fit).

The bandpass filter used in the processing and for the display was

cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3 
lp c 0.06 n 3 
Figure 3. Waveform comparison for selected depth. Red: observed; Blue - predicted. The time shift with respect to the model prediction is indicated. The percent of fit is also indicated.
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.

A check on the assumed source location is possible by looking at the time shifts between the observed and predicted traces. The time shifts for waveform matching arise for several reasons:

Assuming only a mislocation, the time shifts are fit to a functional form:

 Time_shift = A + B cos Azimuth + C Sin Azimuth

The time shifts for this inversion lead to the next figure:

The derived shift in origin time and epicentral coordinates are given at the bottom of the figure.

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Thanks also to the many seismic network operators whose dedication make this effort possible: University of Nevada Reno, University of Alaska, University of Washington, Oregon State University, University of Utah, Montana Bureau of Mines, UC Berkely, Caltech, UC San Diego, Saint Louis University, University of Memphis, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, the Oklahoma Geological Survey, TexNet, the Iris stations, the Transportable Array of EarthScope and other networks.

Velocity Model

The WUS.model 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:

Last Changed Tue Dec 21 17:58:21 CST 2021