Location

SLU Location

Location ANSS

The ANSS event ID is ak017fzmc64y and the event page is at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ak017fzmc64y/executive.

2017/12/14 05:57:05 63.030 -156.097 12.9 3.5 Alaska

Focal Mechanism

USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2017/12/14 05:57:05:0 63.03 -156.10 12.9 3.5 Alaska Stations used: AK.BPAW AK.CAST TA.G18K TA.H18K TA.H19K TA.J17K TA.J18K TA.J19K TA.K15K TA.K17K TA.K20K TA.L16K TA.L18K TA.L19K TA.N17K TA.N18K TA.N19K TA.O18K Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +50 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.10 n 3 br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 2.16e+21 dyne-cm Mw = 3.49 Z = 11 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 65 74 127 NP2 175 40 25 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 2.16e+21 47 14 N 0.00e+00 36 234 P -2.16e+21 20 128 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx 2.12e+20 Mxy 1.16e+21 Mxz 1.48e+21 Myy -1.11e+21 Myz -2.89e+20 Mzz 9.00e+20 ---########### -----################# ------###################### ------######################## -------########### ############# -------############ T ############## --------############ ############### --------#############################--- --------###########################----- ---------#########################-------- ---------######################----------- ---------###################-------------- ---------################----------------- --------###########--------------------- ---------######------------------------- ------##----------------------- ---- ########---------------------- P --- ########--------------------- -- #######----------------------- ########-------------------- #######--------------- ######-------- Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P 9.00e+20 1.48e+21 2.89e+20 1.48e+21 2.12e+20 -1.16e+21 2.89e+20 -1.16e+21 -1.11e+21 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20171214055705/index.html

Preferred Solution

      STK = 175
      DIP = 40
     RAKE = 25
       MW = 3.49
       HS = 11.0

The NDK file is 20171214055705.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

SLUFM

USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2017/12/14 05:57:05:0 63.03 -156.10 12.9 3.5 Alaska Stations used: AK.BPAW AK.CAST TA.G18K TA.H18K TA.H19K TA.J17K TA.J18K TA.J19K TA.K15K TA.K17K TA.K20K TA.L16K TA.L18K TA.L19K TA.N17K TA.N18K TA.N19K TA.O18K Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +50 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.10 n 3 br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 2.16e+21 dyne-cm Mw = 3.49 Z = 11 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 65 74 127 NP2 175 40 25 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 2.16e+21 47 14 N 0.00e+00 36 234 P -2.16e+21 20 128 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx 2.12e+20 Mxy 1.16e+21 Mxz 1.48e+21 Myy -1.11e+21 Myz -2.89e+20 Mzz 9.00e+20 ---########### -----################# ------###################### ------######################## -------########### ############# -------############ T ############## --------############ ############### --------#############################--- --------###########################----- ---------#########################-------- ---------######################----------- ---------###################-------------- ---------################----------------- --------###########--------------------- ---------######------------------------- ------##----------------------- ---- ########---------------------- P --- ########--------------------- -- #######----------------------- ########-------------------- #######--------------- ######-------- Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P 9.00e+20 1.48e+21 2.89e+20 1.48e+21 2.12e+20 -1.16e+21 2.89e+20 -1.16e+21 -1.11e+21 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20171214055705/index.html

First motions and takeoff angles from an elocate run.

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 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3 
lp c 0.10 n 3 
br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2

           DEPTH  STK   DIP  RAKE   MW    FIT
WVFGRD96    1.0   170    90     0   2.94 0.2955
WVFGRD96    2.0   350    90     0   3.14 0.5279
WVFGRD96    3.0   165    90    10   3.19 0.6092
WVFGRD96    4.0   165    90    20   3.24 0.6553
WVFGRD96    5.0   170    65    20   3.29 0.6817
WVFGRD96    6.0   170    65    20   3.31 0.6970
WVFGRD96    7.0   170    65    20   3.33 0.7064
WVFGRD96    8.0   175    45    25   3.42 0.7121
WVFGRD96    9.0   175    45    25   3.44 0.7168
WVFGRD96   10.0   175    40    25   3.48 0.7193
WVFGRD96   11.0   175    40    25   3.49 0.7204
WVFGRD96   12.0   170    50    15   3.46 0.7196
WVFGRD96   13.0   170    50    15   3.47 0.7183
WVFGRD96   14.0   170    50    15   3.48 0.7161
WVFGRD96   15.0   170    50    15   3.50 0.7127
WVFGRD96   16.0   170    55    15   3.49 0.7094
WVFGRD96   17.0   170    55    15   3.50 0.7056
WVFGRD96   18.0   170    60    15   3.50 0.7015
WVFGRD96   19.0   170    60    15   3.51 0.6975
WVFGRD96   20.0   170    65    15   3.51 0.6933
WVFGRD96   21.0   170    60    15   3.53 0.6895
WVFGRD96   22.0   350    60    15   3.53 0.6861
WVFGRD96   23.0   350    60    15   3.53 0.6836
WVFGRD96   24.0   350    60    15   3.54 0.6799
WVFGRD96   25.0   350    55    15   3.56 0.6753
WVFGRD96   26.0   350    60    15   3.56 0.6708
WVFGRD96   27.0   350    60    15   3.56 0.6649
WVFGRD96   28.0   350    60    15   3.57 0.6589
WVFGRD96   29.0   350    55    15   3.59 0.6520

The best solution is

WVFGRD96   11.0   175    40    25   3.49 0.7204

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 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3 
lp c 0.10 n 3 
br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2

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