The ANSS event ID is tx2024pxly and the event page is at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/tx2024pxly/executive.
2024/08/14 07:12:29 32.781 -100.703 3.4 3.5 Texas
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2024/08/14 07:12:29:0 32.78 -100.70 3.4 3.5 Texas Stations used: 4O.CF01 4O.EE01 4O.HP01 4O.HP02 4O.MBBB2 4O.MG01 4O.MID02 4O.SD01 TX.APMT TX.DKNS TX.MB03 TX.MB05 TX.MB06 TX.MB10 TX.MB11 TX.MB12 TX.MB13 TX.MB15 TX.MB16 TX.MB18 TX.MB21 TX.MB22 TX.MB23 TX.MB25 TX.ODSA TX.OZNA TX.PB51 TX.PLPT TX.POST TX.SGCY TX.SN02 TX.SN03 TX.SN04 TX.SN07 TX.SN09 TX.WTFS Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +30 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.05 n 3 lp c 0.15 n 3 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 1.88e+21 dyne-cm Mw = 3.45 Z = 5 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 23 74 -102 NP2 240 20 -55 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 1.88e+21 28 123 N 0.00e+00 11 27 P -1.88e+21 60 277 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx 4.24e+20 Mxy -6.14e+20 Mxz -5.16e+20 Myy 5.68e+20 Myz 1.47e+21 Mzz -9.92e+20 ############## ###################--- ########--------------###--- #####------------------######- #####--------------------########- ####----------------------########## ####----------------------############ ####-----------------------############# ###-----------------------############## ###--------- ------------############### ##---------- P -----------################ ##---------- ----------################# ##----------------------################## #---------------------################## #---------------------######### ###### -------------------########### T ##### -----------------############ #### ---------------################### ------------################## ---------################### -----################# ############## Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P -9.92e+20 -5.16e+20 -1.47e+21 -5.16e+20 4.24e+20 6.14e+20 -1.47e+21 6.14e+20 5.68e+20 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20240814071229/index.html |
STK = 240 DIP = 20 RAKE = -55 MW = 3.45 HS = 5.0
The NDK file is 20240814071229.ndk The waveform inversion is preferred.
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.
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution ENS 2024/08/14 07:12:29:0 32.78 -100.70 3.4 3.5 Texas Stations used: 4O.CF01 4O.EE01 4O.HP01 4O.HP02 4O.MBBB2 4O.MG01 4O.MID02 4O.SD01 TX.APMT TX.DKNS TX.MB03 TX.MB05 TX.MB06 TX.MB10 TX.MB11 TX.MB12 TX.MB13 TX.MB15 TX.MB16 TX.MB18 TX.MB21 TX.MB22 TX.MB23 TX.MB25 TX.ODSA TX.OZNA TX.PB51 TX.PLPT TX.POST TX.SGCY TX.SN02 TX.SN03 TX.SN04 TX.SN07 TX.SN09 TX.WTFS Filtering commands used: cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +30 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.05 n 3 lp c 0.15 n 3 Best Fitting Double Couple Mo = 1.88e+21 dyne-cm Mw = 3.45 Z = 5 km Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 23 74 -102 NP2 240 20 -55 Principal Axes: Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 1.88e+21 28 123 N 0.00e+00 11 27 P -1.88e+21 60 277 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm) Component Value Mxx 4.24e+20 Mxy -6.14e+20 Mxz -5.16e+20 Myy 5.68e+20 Myz 1.47e+21 Mzz -9.92e+20 ############## ###################--- ########--------------###--- #####------------------######- #####--------------------########- ####----------------------########## ####----------------------############ ####-----------------------############# ###-----------------------############## ###--------- ------------############### ##---------- P -----------################ ##---------- ----------################# ##----------------------################## #---------------------################## #---------------------######### ###### -------------------########### T ##### -----------------############ #### ---------------################### ------------################## ---------################### -----################# ############## Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor: R T P -9.92e+20 -5.16e+20 -1.47e+21 -5.16e+20 4.24e+20 6.14e+20 -1.47e+21 6.14e+20 5.68e+20 Details of the solution is found at http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20240814071229/index.html |
Regional Moment Tensor (Mwr) Moment 4.129e+14 N-m Magnitude 3.68 Mwr Depth 6.0 km Percent DC 96% Half Duration - Catalog US Data Source US 2 Contributor US 2 Nodal Planes Plane Strike Dip Rake NP1 241 34 -70 NP2 37 58 -103 Principal Axes Axis Value Plunge Azimuth T 4.169e+14 12 136 N -0.082e+14 11 44 P -4.088e+14 73 273 |
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: mLg computed using the IASPEI formula. Center: mLg residuals versus epicentral distance ; the values used for the trimmed mean magnitude estimate are indicated.
Right: residuals as a function of distance and azimuth.
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/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +30 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.05 n 3 lp c 0.15 n 3The results of this grid search are as follow:
DEPTH STK DIP RAKE MW FIT WVFGRD96 1.0 180 75 -50 3.15 0.2788 WVFGRD96 2.0 175 75 -60 3.35 0.3320 WVFGRD96 3.0 245 15 -45 3.44 0.5168 WVFGRD96 4.0 240 20 -55 3.45 0.5777 WVFGRD96 5.0 240 20 -55 3.45 0.5890 WVFGRD96 6.0 240 25 -55 3.46 0.5802 WVFGRD96 7.0 195 50 95 3.51 0.5682 WVFGRD96 8.0 245 25 -50 3.55 0.5392 WVFGRD96 9.0 185 40 85 3.60 0.5243 WVFGRD96 10.0 180 35 80 3.60 0.4996 WVFGRD96 11.0 185 35 80 3.62 0.4690 WVFGRD96 12.0 180 30 75 3.62 0.4350 WVFGRD96 13.0 265 25 -30 3.62 0.4104 WVFGRD96 14.0 275 25 -20 3.63 0.3904 WVFGRD96 15.0 275 25 -15 3.64 0.3724 WVFGRD96 16.0 285 25 -5 3.66 0.3559 WVFGRD96 17.0 290 25 10 3.66 0.3406 WVFGRD96 18.0 300 20 15 3.67 0.3283 WVFGRD96 19.0 305 20 20 3.69 0.3167 WVFGRD96 20.0 320 25 30 3.70 0.3074 WVFGRD96 21.0 325 25 40 3.71 0.3023 WVFGRD96 22.0 330 25 40 3.73 0.3007 WVFGRD96 23.0 335 25 45 3.73 0.3004 WVFGRD96 24.0 340 25 50 3.74 0.3011 WVFGRD96 25.0 -10 25 55 3.75 0.3032 WVFGRD96 26.0 -5 25 60 3.76 0.3067 WVFGRD96 27.0 210 70 100 3.78 0.3095 WVFGRD96 28.0 205 65 80 3.79 0.3139 WVFGRD96 29.0 205 65 80 3.79 0.3157
The best solution is
WVFGRD96 5.0 240 20 -55 3.45 0.5890
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/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +30 rtr taper w 0.1 hp c 0.05 n 3 lp c 0.15 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