The ANSS event ID is ak0245p867wh and the event page is at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ak0245p867wh/executive.
2024/05/03 09:29:32 59.977 -152.749 88.7 4.3 Alaska
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2024/05/03 09:29:32:0 59.98 -152.75 88.7 4.3 Alaska Stations used: AK.BRLK AK.CAPN AK.CUT AK.FIRE AK.GHO AK.HOM AK.L17K AK.L19K AK.M19K AK.N18K AK.O18K AK.O19K AK.P16K AK.P17K AK.RC01 AK.RND AK.SAW AK.SLK AK.SWD AT.PMR AT.TTA AV.ACH AV.PLBL AV.STLK II.KDAK Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.8 -20 o DIST/3.8 +60 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.10 n 3 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 5.01e+22 dyne-cm Mw = 4.40 Z = 98 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 50 70 25 NP2 311 67 158 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 5.01e+22 32 271 N 0.00e+00 58 86 P -5.01e+22 2 180 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx -5.00e+22 Mxy -7.08e+20 Mxz 2.44e+21 Myy 3.64e+22 Myz -2.23e+22 Mzz 1.36e+22 -------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------------ #########------------------------# ##############-------------------### ##################---------------##### #####################------------####### ########################-------######### ##### ###################----########### ##### T ################################## ##### ####################--############ ##########################------########## ######################----------######## ####################-------------####### ################-----------------##### ############---------------------### #######-------------------------## ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------- --------- ------ P ----- Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P 1.36e+22 2.44e+21 2.23e+22 2.44e+21 -5.00e+22 7.08e+20 2.23e+22 7.08e+20 3.64e+22 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20240503092932/index.html |
STK = 50 DIP = 70 RAKE = 25 MW = 4.40 HS = 98.0
The NDK file is 20240503092932.ndk The waveform inversion is preferred.
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 ML by application of the respective IASPEI formulae. As a research study, the linear distance term of the IASPEI formula for ML is adjusted to remove a linear distance trend in residuals to give a regionally defined ML. The defined ML 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.
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.
![]() |
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.
![]() |
|
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/3.8 -20 o DIST/3.8 +60 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.10 n 3The results of this grid search are as follow:
DEPTH STK DIP RAKE MW FIT WVFGRD96 2.0 310 65 -30 3.52 0.2407 WVFGRD96 4.0 315 85 -10 3.57 0.2830 WVFGRD96 6.0 315 85 -10 3.64 0.2961 WVFGRD96 8.0 315 85 -10 3.71 0.2978 WVFGRD96 10.0 135 90 10 3.75 0.2848 WVFGRD96 12.0 135 90 15 3.78 0.2667 WVFGRD96 14.0 220 80 0 3.79 0.2511 WVFGRD96 16.0 220 80 0 3.82 0.2512 WVFGRD96 18.0 220 80 0 3.85 0.2534 WVFGRD96 20.0 220 80 0 3.88 0.2578 WVFGRD96 22.0 220 80 0 3.90 0.2651 WVFGRD96 24.0 40 80 0 3.92 0.2778 WVFGRD96 26.0 40 80 0 3.95 0.2935 WVFGRD96 28.0 40 80 0 3.97 0.3101 WVFGRD96 30.0 40 80 0 3.99 0.3263 WVFGRD96 32.0 40 85 -10 4.00 0.3396 WVFGRD96 34.0 40 85 -10 4.02 0.3520 WVFGRD96 36.0 40 85 -10 4.04 0.3575 WVFGRD96 38.0 45 85 -5 4.08 0.3653 WVFGRD96 40.0 45 90 -10 4.13 0.3742 WVFGRD96 42.0 45 90 -10 4.16 0.3780 WVFGRD96 44.0 45 85 -5 4.18 0.3806 WVFGRD96 46.0 45 80 5 4.20 0.3838 WVFGRD96 48.0 45 75 5 4.22 0.3885 WVFGRD96 50.0 45 75 5 4.24 0.3969 WVFGRD96 52.0 50 75 10 4.27 0.4064 WVFGRD96 54.0 50 75 10 4.28 0.4161 WVFGRD96 56.0 50 75 10 4.29 0.4277 WVFGRD96 58.0 50 75 15 4.30 0.4389 WVFGRD96 60.0 50 75 15 4.31 0.4498 WVFGRD96 62.0 50 75 15 4.32 0.4608 WVFGRD96 64.0 50 75 15 4.33 0.4701 WVFGRD96 66.0 50 75 20 4.34 0.4799 WVFGRD96 68.0 50 70 20 4.34 0.4891 WVFGRD96 70.0 50 70 20 4.35 0.4975 WVFGRD96 72.0 50 70 20 4.35 0.5052 WVFGRD96 74.0 50 70 20 4.36 0.5125 WVFGRD96 76.0 50 70 25 4.37 0.5175 WVFGRD96 78.0 50 70 25 4.37 0.5258 WVFGRD96 80.0 50 70 25 4.38 0.5324 WVFGRD96 82.0 50 70 25 4.38 0.5366 WVFGRD96 84.0 50 70 25 4.38 0.5403 WVFGRD96 86.0 50 70 25 4.39 0.5445 WVFGRD96 88.0 50 70 25 4.39 0.5467 WVFGRD96 90.0 50 70 25 4.39 0.5502 WVFGRD96 92.0 50 70 25 4.40 0.5512 WVFGRD96 94.0 50 70 25 4.40 0.5511 WVFGRD96 96.0 50 70 25 4.40 0.5510 WVFGRD96 98.0 50 70 25 4.40 0.5530 WVFGRD96 100.0 50 70 25 4.41 0.5528 WVFGRD96 102.0 50 70 25 4.41 0.5515 WVFGRD96 104.0 50 70 25 4.41 0.5517 WVFGRD96 106.0 50 70 25 4.41 0.5496 WVFGRD96 108.0 50 70 25 4.42 0.5473 WVFGRD96 110.0 50 70 25 4.42 0.5460 WVFGRD96 112.0 50 70 25 4.42 0.5425 WVFGRD96 114.0 50 65 25 4.42 0.5402 WVFGRD96 116.0 50 65 25 4.42 0.5373 WVFGRD96 118.0 50 65 25 4.43 0.5350
The best solution is
WVFGRD96 98.0 50 70 25 4.40 0.5530
The mechanism corresponding to the best fit is
![]() |
|
The best fit as a function of depth is given in the following figure:
![]() |
|
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/3.8 -20 o DIST/3.8 +60 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.03 n 3 lp c 0.10 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:
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.
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