Location
SLU Location
To check the ANSS location or to compare the observed P-wave first motions to the moment tensor solution, P- and S-wave first arrival times were manually read together with the P-wave first motions. The subsequent output of the program elocate is given in the file elocate.txt. The first motion plot is shown below. The free depth solution is sensitive tot eh starting value. If the initial depth is 10km, the final depth is 19 km. However if starting at 5 km, the depth is 11km, which has the lowest RMS. The first motions agree with the moment tensor solution given below.
Location SLU
First arrivals and P-wave polarities were read to be able to compare observed first motions to the regional moment tensor solution. there is a good agreement. The outpu of the program elocate is given in the file elocate.txt:!l
Location ANSS
The ANSS event ID is us6000s5vg and the event page is at
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000s5vg/executive.
2026/02/01 17:41:44 55.000 -115.838 9.6 4.3 Alberta, Canada
Focal Mechanism
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
ENS 2026/02/01 17:41:44.0 55.00 -115.84 9.6 4.3 Alberta, Canada
Stations used:
1E.BCH2A 1E.MONT1 1E.MONT2 1E.MONT3 1E.MONT4 1E.MONT5
1E.MONT8 1E.MONT9 1E.MONTA 1E.MONTC 1E.MONTD 1E.MONTE
CN.EDM MB.CBMT MB.JTMT MB.LDM MB.WFMT PQ.NAB1 PQ.NBC4
PQ.NBC5 PQ.NBC8 RV.ASHMA RV.BASHA RV.BDMTA RV.BELVA
RV.BLSTA RV.BRLDA RV.BSLNA RV.CONKA RV.DEDWA RV.FAIRA
RV.KIMIA RV.LGPLA RV.MANTA RV.PENOA RV.RANFA RV.REDDA
RV.ROCKA RV.SNUFA RV.SWHSA RV.THORA RV.TULLA RV.WTMTA
RV.YELLA TD.TD002 TD.TD008 TD.TD009 TD.TD022 US.NEW
UW.CVILL UW.DAVN UW.GOBBL UW.METAL UW.RVSD WW.KNWR XL.MG04
XL.MG05 XL.MG07 XL.MG08 XL.MG10 XL.MG11
Filtering commands used:
cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +60
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 n 3
br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2
Best Fitting Double Couple
Mo = 1.17e+22 dyne-cm
Mw = 3.98
Z = 7 km
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 115 50 80
NP2 310 41 102
Principal Axes:
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 1.17e+22 81 332
N 0.00e+00 8 121
P -1.17e+22 5 212
Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
Component Value
Mxx -8.16e+21
Mxy -5.37e+21
Mxz 2.38e+21
Myy -3.23e+21
Myz -3.39e+20
Mzz 1.14e+22
--------------
----------------------
----------------------------
###############---------------
#####################-------------
#########################-----------
############################----------
--#############################---------
--############### ############--------
----############## T #############--------
-----############# ##############-------
------##############################------
--------#############################-----
---------###########################----
-----------#########################----
-------------#######################--
----------------####################
---------------------------------#
------------------------------
--- ----------------------
P -------------------
--------------
Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
R T P
1.14e+22 2.38e+21 3.39e+20
2.38e+21 -8.16e+21 5.37e+21
3.39e+20 5.37e+21 -3.23e+21
Details of the solution is found at
http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20260201174144/index.html
|
Preferred Solution
The preferred solution from an analysis of the surface-wave spectral amplitude radiation pattern, waveform inversion or first motion observations is
STK = 115
DIP = 50
RAKE = 80
MW = 3.98
HS = 7.0
The NDK file is 20260201174144.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 2026/02/01 17:41:44.0 55.00 -115.84 9.6 4.3 Alberta, Canada
Stations used:
1E.BCH2A 1E.MONT1 1E.MONT2 1E.MONT3 1E.MONT4 1E.MONT5
1E.MONT8 1E.MONT9 1E.MONTA 1E.MONTC 1E.MONTD 1E.MONTE
CN.EDM MB.CBMT MB.JTMT MB.LDM MB.WFMT PQ.NAB1 PQ.NBC4
PQ.NBC5 PQ.NBC8 RV.ASHMA RV.BASHA RV.BDMTA RV.BELVA
RV.BLSTA RV.BRLDA RV.BSLNA RV.CONKA RV.DEDWA RV.FAIRA
RV.KIMIA RV.LGPLA RV.MANTA RV.PENOA RV.RANFA RV.REDDA
RV.ROCKA RV.SNUFA RV.SWHSA RV.THORA RV.TULLA RV.WTMTA
RV.YELLA TD.TD002 TD.TD008 TD.TD009 TD.TD022 US.NEW
UW.CVILL UW.DAVN UW.GOBBL UW.METAL UW.RVSD WW.KNWR XL.MG04
XL.MG05 XL.MG07 XL.MG08 XL.MG10 XL.MG11
Filtering commands used:
cut o DIST/3.3 -30 o DIST/3.3 +60
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 n 3
br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2
Best Fitting Double Couple
Mo = 1.17e+22 dyne-cm
Mw = 3.98
Z = 7 km
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 115 50 80
NP2 310 41 102
Principal Axes:
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 1.17e+22 81 332
N 0.00e+00 8 121
P -1.17e+22 5 212
Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
Component Value
Mxx -8.16e+21
Mxy -5.37e+21
Mxz 2.38e+21
Myy -3.23e+21
Myz -3.39e+20
Mzz 1.14e+22
--------------
----------------------
----------------------------
###############---------------
#####################-------------
#########################-----------
############################----------
--#############################---------
--############### ############--------
----############## T #############--------
-----############# ##############-------
------##############################------
--------#############################-----
---------###########################----
-----------#########################----
-------------#######################--
----------------####################
---------------------------------#
------------------------------
--- ----------------------
P -------------------
--------------
Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
R T P
1.14e+22 2.38e+21 3.39e+20
2.38e+21 -8.16e+21 5.37e+21
3.39e+20 5.37e+21 -3.23e+21
Details of the solution is found at
http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20260201174144/index.html
|
First motions and takeoff angles from an elocate run.
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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 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.
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
The left panel of the next figure presents the focal mechanism for this earthquake (red) in the context of other nearby events (blue) in the SLU Moment Tensor Catalog. 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). Thus context plot is useful for assessing the appropriateness of the moment tensor of this event.
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.
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Location of broadband stations used for waveform inversion
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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 +60
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 n 3
br c 0.12 0.25 n 4 p 2
The results of this grid search are as follow:
DEPTH STK DIP RAKE MW FIT
WVFGRD96 1.0 80 85 65 3.97 0.4485
WVFGRD96 2.0 85 80 55 3.90 0.4635
WVFGRD96 3.0 85 75 50 3.88 0.4769
WVFGRD96 4.0 90 70 55 3.90 0.4890
WVFGRD96 5.0 100 60 65 3.94 0.5081
WVFGRD96 6.0 110 55 75 3.97 0.5333
WVFGRD96 7.0 115 50 80 3.98 0.5381
WVFGRD96 8.0 115 50 80 3.96 0.5274
WVFGRD96 9.0 115 50 80 3.95 0.5062
WVFGRD96 10.0 105 55 65 3.93 0.4997
WVFGRD96 11.0 85 75 35 3.87 0.4933
WVFGRD96 12.0 265 75 30 3.88 0.4892
WVFGRD96 13.0 265 75 30 3.88 0.4861
WVFGRD96 14.0 260 80 25 3.88 0.4832
WVFGRD96 15.0 260 80 25 3.89 0.4805
WVFGRD96 16.0 260 80 25 3.89 0.4770
WVFGRD96 17.0 260 80 25 3.90 0.4728
WVFGRD96 18.0 260 80 25 3.91 0.4679
WVFGRD96 19.0 260 80 25 3.91 0.4625
WVFGRD96 20.0 260 80 25 3.93 0.4578
WVFGRD96 21.0 260 80 25 3.93 0.4523
WVFGRD96 22.0 260 80 25 3.94 0.4465
WVFGRD96 23.0 260 80 25 3.94 0.4402
WVFGRD96 24.0 265 80 25 3.96 0.4337
WVFGRD96 25.0 265 80 25 3.96 0.4269
WVFGRD96 26.0 265 80 25 3.97 0.4200
WVFGRD96 27.0 265 80 25 3.97 0.4129
WVFGRD96 28.0 265 80 20 3.98 0.4057
WVFGRD96 29.0 265 80 20 3.99 0.3984
The best solution is
WVFGRD96 7.0 115 50 80 3.98 0.5381
The mechanism corresponding to the best fit is
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Figure 1. Waveform inversion focal mechanism
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The best fit as a function of depth is given in the following figure:
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Figure 2. Depth sensitivity for waveform mechanism
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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 +60
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 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.
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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.
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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)
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.
Velocity Model
The CUS.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
CUS Model with Q from simple gamma values
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
1.0000 5.0000 2.8900 2.5000 0.172E-02 0.387E-02 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00
9.0000 6.1000 3.5200 2.7300 0.160E-02 0.363E-02 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00
10.0000 6.4000 3.7000 2.8200 0.149E-02 0.336E-02 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00
20.0000 6.7000 3.8700 2.9020 0.000E-04 0.000E-04 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00
0.0000 8.1500 4.7000 3.3640 0.194E-02 0.431E-02 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00
Last Changed Sun Feb 1 17:40:56 CST 2026
