Location

Location ANSS

The ANSS event ID is nn00914068 and the event page is at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nn00914068/executive.

2026/04/14 01:29:11 39.330 -119.015 10.0 5.7 Nevada

Focal Mechanism

 USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
 ENS  2026/04/14 01:29:11.0  39.33 -119.01  10.0 5.7 Nevada
 
 Stations used:
   BK.AONC BK.BIGV BK.BONV BK.BUCR BK.EAGL BK.GCKB BK.GTSB 
   BK.GUMB BK.HALS BK.HULI BK.LCOW BK.MHC BK.MMI BK.MNLT 
   BK.MZTA BK.PATT BK.PETY BK.PKD BK.RAVE BK.SBAR BK.SWNM 
   BK.WELL BK.YUBA CI.FUR CI.ISA CI.LRL CI.MPM CI.RPK CI.SLA 
   CI.VES IM.NV31 NC.AFD NC.JCD NC.KHMB NC.LDH NC.LTC NC.MED 
   NC.PMPB UO.ADEL UO.HAMAK UO.JAZZ UO.RANT UO.SLPT UO.WOOD 
   US.ELK US.WVOR UW.TREE 
 
 Filtering commands used:
   cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
   rtr
   taper w 0.1
   hp c 0.025 n 3 
   lp c 0.06 n 3 
 
 Best Fitting Double Couple
  Mo = 4.17e+24 dyne-cm
  Mw = 5.68 
  Z  = 8 km
  Plane   Strike  Dip  Rake
   NP1      240    90   -20
   NP2      330    70   -180
  Principal Axes:
   Axis    Value   Plunge  Azimuth
    T   4.17e+24     14     287
    N   0.00e+00     70      60
    P  -4.17e+24     14     193

 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
    Component   Value
       Mxx    -3.39e+24
       Mxy    -1.96e+24
       Mxz     1.23e+24
       Myy     3.39e+24
       Myz    -7.13e+23
       Mzz     1.25e+17
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                     --------------                  
                 #---------------------              
              #######---------------------           
             ###########-------------------          
           ##############--------------------        
          #################-------------------       
         ####################-------------#####      
        #   ##################---------#########     
        # T ###################-----############     
       ##   ####################-################    
       #######################---################    
       ###################--------###############    
       ################------------##############    
        ############----------------############     
        #########--------------------###########     
         #####-----------------------##########      
          ----------------------------########       
           ---------------------------#######        
             -------------------------#####          
              --------   -------------####           
                 ----- P -------------#              
                     -   ----------                  
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
 Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
      R          T          P
  1.25e+17   1.23e+24   7.13e+23 
  1.23e+24  -3.39e+24   1.96e+24 
  7.13e+23   1.96e+24   3.39e+24 


Details of the solution is found at

http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20260414012911/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 = 240
      DIP = 90
     RAKE = -20
       MW = 5.68
       HS = 8.0

The NDK file is 20260414012911.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
USGSMT
USGSMWR
USGSW
UNR
 USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
 ENS  2026/04/14 01:29:11.0  39.33 -119.01  10.0 5.7 Nevada
 
 Stations used:
   BK.AONC BK.BIGV BK.BONV BK.BUCR BK.EAGL BK.GCKB BK.GTSB 
   BK.GUMB BK.HALS BK.HULI BK.LCOW BK.MHC BK.MMI BK.MNLT 
   BK.MZTA BK.PATT BK.PETY BK.PKD BK.RAVE BK.SBAR BK.SWNM 
   BK.WELL BK.YUBA CI.FUR CI.ISA CI.LRL CI.MPM CI.RPK CI.SLA 
   CI.VES IM.NV31 NC.AFD NC.JCD NC.KHMB NC.LDH NC.LTC NC.MED 
   NC.PMPB UO.ADEL UO.HAMAK UO.JAZZ UO.RANT UO.SLPT UO.WOOD 
   US.ELK US.WVOR UW.TREE 
 
 Filtering commands used:
   cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
   rtr
   taper w 0.1
   hp c 0.025 n 3 
   lp c 0.06 n 3 
 
 Best Fitting Double Couple
  Mo = 4.17e+24 dyne-cm
  Mw = 5.68 
  Z  = 8 km
  Plane   Strike  Dip  Rake
   NP1      240    90   -20
   NP2      330    70   -180
  Principal Axes:
   Axis    Value   Plunge  Azimuth
    T   4.17e+24     14     287
    N   0.00e+00     70      60
    P  -4.17e+24     14     193

 Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
    Component   Value
       Mxx    -3.39e+24
       Mxy    -1.96e+24
       Mxz     1.23e+24
       Myy     3.39e+24
       Myz    -7.13e+23
       Mzz     1.25e+17
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
                     --------------                  
                 #---------------------              
              #######---------------------           
             ###########-------------------          
           ##############--------------------        
          #################-------------------       
         ####################-------------#####      
        #   ##################---------#########     
        # T ###################-----############     
       ##   ####################-################    
       #######################---################    
       ###################--------###############    
       ################------------##############    
        ############----------------############     
        #########--------------------###########     
         #####-----------------------##########      
          ----------------------------########       
           ---------------------------#######        
             -------------------------#####          
              --------   -------------####           
                 ----- P -------------#              
                     -   ----------                  
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     
 Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
      R          T          P
  1.25e+17   1.23e+24   7.13e+23 
  1.23e+24  -3.39e+24   1.96e+24 
  7.13e+23   1.96e+24   3.39e+24 


Details of the solution is found at

http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20260414012911/index.html
	
Body-wave Moment Tensor (Mwb)
Moment 3.631e+17 N-m
Magnitude 5.64 Mwb
Depth 12.0 km
Percent DC 91%
Half Duration -
Catalog US
Data Source US
Contributor US
Nodal Planes
Plane	Strike	Dip	Rake
NP1	330	87	-179
NP2	240	89	-3
Principal Axes
Axis	Value	Plunge	Azimuth
T	3.546e+17	1	285
N	0.164e+17	87	35
P	-3.711e+17	3	195

        
egional Moment Tensor (Mwr)
Moment 4.235e+17 N-m
Magnitude 5.68 Mwr
Depth 7.0 km
Percent DC 79%
Half Duration -
Catalog US
Data Source US
Contributor US
Nodal Planes
Plane	Strike	Dip	Rake
NP1	331	80	176
NP2	62	86	10
Principal Axes
Axis	Value	Plunge	Azimuth
T	4.449e+17	10	287
N	-0.467e+17	79	81
P	-3.982e+17	5	196

        
W-phase Moment Tensor (Mww)
Moment 4.144e+17 N-m
Magnitude 5.68 Mww
Depth 11.5 km
Percent DC 88%
Half Duration 1.50 s
Catalog US
Data Source US
Contributor US
Nodal Planes
Plane	Strike	Dip	Rake
NP1	243	86	4
NP2	153	86	176
Principal Axes
Axis	Value	Plunge	Azimuth
T	4.008e+17	6	108
N	0.260e+17	84	287
P	-4.268e+17	0	18

        
Moment Tensor
Moment 4.108e+17 N-m
Magnitude 5.68
Depth 5.0 km
Percent DC 96%
Half Duration -
Catalog NN
Data Source NN
Contributor NN
Nodal Planes
Plane	Strike	Dip	Rake
NP1	330	85	170
NP2	61	80	5
Principal Axes
Axis	Value	Plunge	Azimuth
T	4.144e+17	10	285
N	-0.073e+17	79	123
P	-4.071e+17	3	16

        

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.
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 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.025 n 3 
lp c 0.06 n 3 
The results of this grid search are as follow:

           DEPTH  STK   DIP  RAKE   MW    FIT
WVFGRD96    1.0   240    90     0   5.42 0.5335
WVFGRD96    2.0    60    80   -10   5.51 0.6413
WVFGRD96    3.0    60    80   -10   5.55 0.6931
WVFGRD96    4.0    60    85    -5   5.58 0.7207
WVFGRD96    5.0   240    90   -10   5.60 0.7354
WVFGRD96    6.0    60    85    15   5.63 0.7449
WVFGRD96    7.0    60    85    15   5.65 0.7546
WVFGRD96    8.0   240    90   -20   5.68 0.7625
WVFGRD96    9.0   240    90   -20   5.70 0.7621
WVFGRD96   10.0    60    85    20   5.71 0.7620
WVFGRD96   11.0    60    85    20   5.72 0.7596
WVFGRD96   12.0   240    90   -20   5.73 0.7548
WVFGRD96   13.0    60    85    20   5.74 0.7493
WVFGRD96   14.0   240    90   -20   5.75 0.7401
WVFGRD96   15.0    60    85    15   5.76 0.7334
WVFGRD96   16.0    60    85    15   5.77 0.7234
WVFGRD96   17.0    60    85    15   5.78 0.7118
WVFGRD96   18.0    60    85    15   5.78 0.7004
WVFGRD96   19.0    60    85    15   5.79 0.6878
WVFGRD96   20.0    60    85    15   5.80 0.6738
WVFGRD96   21.0    60    85    15   5.80 0.6594
WVFGRD96   22.0    60    85    15   5.81 0.6442
WVFGRD96   23.0    60    85    15   5.82 0.6283
WVFGRD96   24.0    60    85    15   5.82 0.6119
WVFGRD96   25.0    60    85    15   5.83 0.5956
WVFGRD96   26.0   240    85   -10   5.83 0.5783
WVFGRD96   27.0   240    85   -10   5.84 0.5617
WVFGRD96   28.0   240    85   -10   5.84 0.5454
WVFGRD96   29.0   240    85   -10   5.85 0.5289

The best solution is

WVFGRD96    8.0   240    90   -20   5.68 0.7625

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 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.025 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:

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 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    
Last Changed Tue Apr 14 09:32:51 CDT 2026