Location

Location ANSS

The ANSS event ID is us10008mel and the event page is at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10008mel/executive.

2017/05/01 12:31:54 59.821 -136.711 10.0 6.2 Alaska

Focal Mechanism

USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2017/05/01 12:31:54:0 59.82 -136.71 10.0 6.2 Alaska Stations used: AK.BARN AK.BESE AK.CTG AK.CYK AK.DOT AK.GLB AK.JIS AK.KIAG AK.LOGN AK.MCAR AK.PAX AK.PIN AK.PNL AK.PTPK AK.RIDG AK.SAMH AK.SAW AK.SCRK AK.VRDI AT.CRAG AT.SIT AT.SKAG AV.WACK CN.BVCY CN.DAWY CN.HYT CN.YUK2 CN.YUK3 CN.YUK4 CN.YUK5 CN.YUK6 CN.YUK7 CN.YUK8 NY.FARO NY.MAYO NY.WTLY TA.HARP TA.I29M TA.J26L TA.J29M TA.K29M TA.L26K TA.L27K TA.L29M TA.M23K TA.M26K TA.M27K TA.M29M TA.M30M TA.M31M TA.N25K TA.N30M TA.N31M TA.O28M TA.O29M TA.O30N TA.P29M TA.P32M TA.P33M TA.Q32M TA.R31K TA.R32K TA.R33M TA.S31K TA.S32K TA.S34M TA.T33K TA.T35M TA.U33K TA.U35K TA.V35K US.EGAK US.WRAK YO.BEAV YO.LIRD Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +70 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.06 n 3 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 1.50e+25 dyne-cm Mw = 6.05 Z = 18 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 170 70 142 NP2 275 55 25 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 1.50e+25 41 127 N 0.00e+00 48 326 P -1.50e+25 9 225 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx -3.97e+24 Mxy -1.15e+25 Mxz -2.83e+24 Myy -1.97e+24 Myz 7.56e+24 Mzz 5.94e+24 ###----------- ######---------------- #########------------------- #########--------------------- ###########----------------------- ############------------------------ ##########---##########--------------- ######--------################---------- ##------------####################------ #--------------#######################---- ----------------########################-- ----------------#########################- ----------------########################## ----------------######################## ----------------############ ######### ----------------########### T ######## ---------------########### ####### -- ----------################### P -----------################ ------------############## ------------########## ----------#### Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P 5.94e+24 -2.83e+24 -7.56e+24 -2.83e+24 -3.97e+24 1.15e+25 -7.56e+24 1.15e+25 -1.97e+24 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20170501123154/index.html

Preferred Solution

      STK = 275
      DIP = 55
     RAKE = 25
       MW = 6.05
       HS = 18.0

The NDK file is 20170501123154.ndk The waveform inversion is preferred.

Moment Tensor Comparison

The following compares this source inversion to those provided by others. The purpose is to look for major differences and also to note slight differences that might be inherent to the processing procedure. For completeness the USGS/SLU solution is repeated from above.

SLU	GCMT	USGSW
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2017/05/01 12:31:54:0 59.82 -136.71 10.0 6.2 Alaska Stations used: AK.BARN AK.BESE AK.CTG AK.CYK AK.DOT AK.GLB AK.JIS AK.KIAG AK.LOGN AK.MCAR AK.PAX AK.PIN AK.PNL AK.PTPK AK.RIDG AK.SAMH AK.SAW AK.SCRK AK.VRDI AT.CRAG AT.SIT AT.SKAG AV.WACK CN.BVCY CN.DAWY CN.HYT CN.YUK2 CN.YUK3 CN.YUK4 CN.YUK5 CN.YUK6 CN.YUK7 CN.YUK8 NY.FARO NY.MAYO NY.WTLY TA.HARP TA.I29M TA.J26L TA.J29M TA.K29M TA.L26K TA.L27K TA.L29M TA.M23K TA.M26K TA.M27K TA.M29M TA.M30M TA.M31M TA.N25K TA.N30M TA.N31M TA.O28M TA.O29M TA.O30N TA.P29M TA.P32M TA.P33M TA.Q32M TA.R31K TA.R32K TA.R33M TA.S31K TA.S32K TA.S34M TA.T33K TA.T35M TA.U33K TA.U35K TA.V35K US.EGAK US.WRAK YO.BEAV YO.LIRD Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +70 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.06 n 3 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 1.50e+25 dyne-cm Mw = 6.05 Z = 18 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 170 70 142 NP2 275 55 25 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 1.50e+25 41 127 N 0.00e+00 48 326 P -1.50e+25 9 225 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx -3.97e+24 Mxy -1.15e+25 Mxz -2.83e+24 Myy -1.97e+24 Myz 7.56e+24 Mzz 5.94e+24 ###----------- ######---------------- #########------------------- #########--------------------- ###########----------------------- ############------------------------ ##########---##########--------------- ######--------################---------- ##------------####################------ #--------------#######################---- ----------------########################-- ----------------#########################- ----------------########################## ----------------######################## ----------------############ ######### ----------------########### T ######## ---------------########### ####### -- ----------################### P -----------################ ------------############## ------------########## ----------#### Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P 5.94e+24 -2.83e+24 -7.56e+24 -2.83e+24 -3.97e+24 1.15e+25 -7.56e+24 1.15e+25 -1.97e+24 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20170501123154/index.html	CENTROID-MOMENT-TENSOR SOLUTION GCMT EVENT: C201705011231A DATA: II LD IU DK CU MN G IC GE KP L.P.BODY WAVES:162S, 350C, T= 40 MANTLE WAVES: 129S, 193C, T=125 SURFACE WAVES: 166S, 407C, T= 50 TIMESTAMP: Q-20170501130642 CENTROID LOCATION: ORIGIN TIME: 12:31:59.7 0.1 LAT:59.94N 0.00;LON:136.56W 0.01 DEP: 17.4 0.3;TRIANG HDUR: 3.1 MOMENT TENSOR: SCALE 10**25 D-CM RR= 1.710 0.021; TT=-0.923 0.018 PP=-0.790 0.017; RT= 1.030 0.054 RP=-1.630 0.059; TP= 2.050 0.015 PRINCIPAL AXES: 1.(T) VAL= 2.514;PLG=64;AZM= 89 2.(N) 1.060; 16; 322 3.(P) -3.577; 20; 226 BEST DBLE.COUPLE:M0= 3.05*10**25 NP1: STRIKE=290;DIP=29;SLIP= 55 NP2: STRIKE=149;DIP=67;SLIP= 108 ----------- #------------------ ###---#######---------- ###--###############------- #-----##################----- #-------###################---- --------####################--- ----------########## #######--- -----------######### T ########-- ------------######## #########- -------------###################- -------------################## --------------################# --- ---------############## -- P ----------############ -------------####### -----------------## -----------	W-phase Moment Tensor (Mww) Moment 2.570e+18 N-m Magnitude 6.2 Mww Depth 15.5 km Percent DC 88 % Half Duration 6 s Catalog US Data Source US3 Contributor US3 Nodal Planes Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 282 46 35 NP2 165 66 130 Principal Axes Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 2.489e+18 N-m 52 122 N 0.156e+18 N-m 36 326 P -2.645e+18 N-m 12 228

Magnitudes

Given the availability of digital waveforms for determination of the moment tensor, this section documents the added processing leading to mLg, if appropriate to the region, and M_L by application of the respective IASPEI formulae. As a research study, the linear distance term of the IASPEI formula for M_L is adjusted to remove a linear distance trend in residuals to give a regionally defined M_L. The defined M_L uses horizontal component recordings, but the same procedure is applied to the vertical components since there may be some interest in vertical component ground motions. Residual plots versus distance may indicate interesting features of ground motion scaling in some distance ranges. A residual plot of the regionalized magnitude is given as a function of distance and azimuth, since data sets may transcend different wave propagation provinces.

ML Magnitude

Left: ML computed using the IASPEI formula for Horizontal components. Center: 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. Right: Residuals from new relation as a function of distance and azimuth.

Left: ML computed using the IASPEI formula for Vertical components (research). Center: 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. Right: Residuals from new relation as a function of distance and azimuth.

Context

Waveform Inversion using wvfgrd96

The focal mechanism was determined using broadband seismic waveforms. The location of the event (star) and the stations used for (red) 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's 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 -30 o DIST/3.3 +70
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3 
lp c 0.06 n 3 

           DEPTH  STK   DIP  RAKE   MW    FIT
WVFGRD96    1.0   270    90     0   5.60 0.3317
WVFGRD96    2.0   315    45    90   5.84 0.4186
WVFGRD96    3.0    85    70   -15   5.76 0.4394
WVFGRD96    4.0    85    65   -15   5.80 0.4582
WVFGRD96    5.0    85    55   -10   5.84 0.4759
WVFGRD96    6.0    90    55     5   5.86 0.5009
WVFGRD96    7.0    90    55     5   5.88 0.5285
WVFGRD96    8.0    90    50    10   5.93 0.5539
WVFGRD96    9.0   275    50    20   5.95 0.5779
WVFGRD96   10.0   275    50    25   5.97 0.6056
WVFGRD96   11.0   275    50    25   5.98 0.6289
WVFGRD96   12.0   275    50    25   5.99 0.6473
WVFGRD96   13.0   275    50    25   6.00 0.6614
WVFGRD96   14.0   275    55    25   6.01 0.6727
WVFGRD96   15.0   275    55    25   6.02 0.6807
WVFGRD96   16.0   275    55    25   6.03 0.6860
WVFGRD96   17.0   275    55    25   6.04 0.6886
WVFGRD96   18.0   275    55    25   6.05 0.6889
WVFGRD96   19.0   275    55    25   6.05 0.6873
WVFGRD96   20.0   275    55    25   6.06 0.6836
WVFGRD96   21.0   275    55    25   6.08 0.6816
WVFGRD96   22.0   275    55    25   6.08 0.6752
WVFGRD96   23.0   275    55    25   6.09 0.6674
WVFGRD96   24.0   275    55    25   6.10 0.6584
WVFGRD96   25.0   275    55    25   6.10 0.6482
WVFGRD96   26.0   275    55    25   6.11 0.6367
WVFGRD96   27.0   275    60    20   6.12 0.6245
WVFGRD96   28.0   275    60    20   6.12 0.6117
WVFGRD96   29.0   275    60    20   6.13 0.5981

The best solution is

WVFGRD96   18.0   275    55    25   6.05 0.6889

The mechanism corresponding 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, the velocity model used in the predictions may not be perfect and the epicentral parameters may be be off. 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 -30 o DIST/3.3 +70
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. The time scale is relative to the first trace sample.

Focal mechanism sensitivity at the preferred depth. The red color indicates a very good fit to the waveforms. 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:

• The origin time and epicentral distance are incorrect
• The velocity model used for the inversion is incorrect
• The velocity model used to define the P-arrival time is not the same as the velocity model used for the waveform inversion (assuming that the initial trace alignment is based on the P arrival time)

 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.

Velocity Model

The WUS.model used for the waveform synthetic seismograms and for the surface wave eigenfunctions and dispersion is as follows (The format is in the model96 format of Computer Programs in Seismology).

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