Location
Location ANSS
The ANSS event ID is uw714111952 and the event page is at
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uw714111952/executive.
2026/09/29 21:05:56 47.406 -122.710 27.9 4.2 Washington
Focal Mechanism
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
ENS 2026/09/29 21:05:56.0 47.41 -122.71 27.9 4.2 Washington
Stations used:
CC.JRO CN.PGC US.NLWA UW.BHW UW.CCRK UW.EQUIL UW.GNW UW.GPW
UW.HILL UW.INGAL UW.LTY UW.MAPLE UW.PASS UW.STOR UW.WOLL
UW.YELM
Filtering commands used:
cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.08 n 3
Best Fitting Double Couple
Mo = 8.04e+21 dyne-cm
Mw = 3.87
Z = 31 km
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 4 76 154
NP2 100 65 15
Principal Axes:
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 8.04e+21 28 320
N 0.00e+00 61 158
P -8.04e+21 8 54
Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
Component Value
Mxx 8.61e+20
Mxy -6.88e+21
Mxz 1.89e+21
Myy -2.45e+21
Myz -3.00e+21
Mzz 1.59e+21
#########-----
#############---------
#################-----------
#### ###########-----------
###### T ###########----------- P
####### ###########----------- -
#######################---------------
########################----------------
########################----------------
-########################-----------------
---######################-----------------
------##################------------------
---------###############------------------
------------###########----------------#
--------------------###----------#######
----------------------################
--------------------################
-------------------###############
----------------##############
---------------#############
-----------###########
------########
Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
R T P
1.59e+21 1.89e+21 3.00e+21
1.89e+21 8.61e+20 6.88e+21
3.00e+21 6.88e+21 -2.45e+21
Details of the solution is found at
http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20260929210556/index.html
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Preferred Solution
The preferred solution from an analysis of the surface-wave spectral amplitude radiation pattern, waveform inversion or first motion observations is
STK = 100
DIP = 65
RAKE = 15
MW = 3.87
HS = 31.0
The NDK file is 20260929210556.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 |
USGSMWR |
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
ENS 2026/09/29 21:05:56.0 47.41 -122.71 27.9 4.2 Washington
Stations used:
CC.JRO CN.PGC US.NLWA UW.BHW UW.CCRK UW.EQUIL UW.GNW UW.GPW
UW.HILL UW.INGAL UW.LTY UW.MAPLE UW.PASS UW.STOR UW.WOLL
UW.YELM
Filtering commands used:
cut o DIST/3.3 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.08 n 3
Best Fitting Double Couple
Mo = 8.04e+21 dyne-cm
Mw = 3.87
Z = 31 km
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 4 76 154
NP2 100 65 15
Principal Axes:
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 8.04e+21 28 320
N 0.00e+00 61 158
P -8.04e+21 8 54
Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
Component Value
Mxx 8.61e+20
Mxy -6.88e+21
Mxz 1.89e+21
Myy -2.45e+21
Myz -3.00e+21
Mzz 1.59e+21
#########-----
#############---------
#################-----------
#### ###########-----------
###### T ###########----------- P
####### ###########----------- -
#######################---------------
########################----------------
########################----------------
-########################-----------------
---######################-----------------
------##################------------------
---------###############------------------
------------###########----------------#
--------------------###----------#######
----------------------################
--------------------################
-------------------###############
----------------##############
---------------#############
-----------###########
------########
Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
R T P
1.59e+21 1.89e+21 3.00e+21
1.89e+21 8.61e+20 6.88e+21
3.00e+21 6.88e+21 -2.45e+21
Details of the solution is found at
http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20260929210556/index.html
|
Regional Moment Tensor (Mwr)
Moment 7.931e+14 N-m
Magnitude 3.87 Mwr
Depth 26.0 km
Percent DC 91%
Half Duration -
Catalog US
Data Source US
Contributor US
Nodal Planes
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 7 81 155
NP2 101 65 10
Principal Axes
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 7.746e+14 24 321
N 0.358e+14 63 167
P -8.104e+14 10 56
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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.
Map showing station locations used for computing the ML's. No distinction is made whether the vertical (Z) or horizontal (H) components were used.
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 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.08 n 3
The results of this grid search are as follow:
DEPTH STK DIP RAKE MW FIT
WVFGRD96 1.0 185 85 5 3.18 0.2198
WVFGRD96 2.0 5 65 25 3.34 0.2852
WVFGRD96 3.0 5 85 -25 3.38 0.2978
WVFGRD96 4.0 -5 70 -45 3.47 0.3152
WVFGRD96 5.0 -5 70 -40 3.49 0.3302
WVFGRD96 6.0 95 60 15 3.50 0.3489
WVFGRD96 7.0 95 60 15 3.53 0.3720
WVFGRD96 8.0 100 55 20 3.59 0.3981
WVFGRD96 9.0 100 55 25 3.62 0.4183
WVFGRD96 10.0 95 60 10 3.62 0.4351
WVFGRD96 11.0 95 60 10 3.64 0.4505
WVFGRD96 12.0 95 65 10 3.66 0.4649
WVFGRD96 13.0 95 65 10 3.67 0.4792
WVFGRD96 14.0 95 65 10 3.69 0.4921
WVFGRD96 15.0 95 65 5 3.71 0.5037
WVFGRD96 16.0 95 65 5 3.72 0.5147
WVFGRD96 17.0 95 65 5 3.74 0.5248
WVFGRD96 18.0 95 65 10 3.75 0.5349
WVFGRD96 19.0 100 65 10 3.76 0.5447
WVFGRD96 20.0 100 65 10 3.77 0.5548
WVFGRD96 21.0 100 65 10 3.79 0.5645
WVFGRD96 22.0 100 65 10 3.80 0.5734
WVFGRD96 23.0 100 65 10 3.81 0.5812
WVFGRD96 24.0 100 65 10 3.82 0.5882
WVFGRD96 25.0 100 65 10 3.83 0.5945
WVFGRD96 26.0 100 65 10 3.84 0.5995
WVFGRD96 27.0 100 65 10 3.84 0.6042
WVFGRD96 28.0 100 65 10 3.85 0.6075
WVFGRD96 29.0 100 65 15 3.86 0.6085
WVFGRD96 30.0 100 65 15 3.87 0.6087
WVFGRD96 31.0 100 65 15 3.87 0.6087
WVFGRD96 32.0 100 65 15 3.88 0.6066
WVFGRD96 33.0 100 65 15 3.89 0.6032
WVFGRD96 34.0 100 65 15 3.89 0.6010
WVFGRD96 35.0 100 65 15 3.90 0.5964
WVFGRD96 36.0 100 65 20 3.91 0.5928
WVFGRD96 37.0 100 65 20 3.92 0.5909
WVFGRD96 38.0 100 65 20 3.93 0.5879
WVFGRD96 39.0 95 70 20 3.94 0.5885
WVFGRD96 40.0 100 55 20 4.00 0.5872
WVFGRD96 41.0 100 60 25 4.01 0.5868
WVFGRD96 42.0 100 60 25 4.02 0.5855
WVFGRD96 43.0 100 60 25 4.03 0.5828
WVFGRD96 44.0 100 60 25 4.03 0.5814
WVFGRD96 45.0 100 60 25 4.04 0.5776
WVFGRD96 46.0 100 60 25 4.05 0.5736
WVFGRD96 47.0 95 65 25 4.05 0.5715
WVFGRD96 48.0 95 65 25 4.06 0.5675
WVFGRD96 49.0 95 65 25 4.06 0.5650
WVFGRD96 50.0 95 65 20 4.06 0.5617
WVFGRD96 51.0 95 65 20 4.07 0.5575
WVFGRD96 52.0 90 65 -15 4.06 0.5568
WVFGRD96 53.0 90 65 -15 4.07 0.5544
WVFGRD96 54.0 90 65 -15 4.07 0.5533
WVFGRD96 55.0 90 65 -15 4.08 0.5506
WVFGRD96 56.0 90 65 -15 4.08 0.5497
WVFGRD96 57.0 90 65 -15 4.09 0.5473
WVFGRD96 58.0 90 65 -15 4.09 0.5460
WVFGRD96 59.0 90 65 -15 4.09 0.5433
The best solution is
WVFGRD96 31.0 100 65 15 3.87 0.6087
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 -40 o DIST/3.3 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.08 n 3
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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 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 Sep 29 17:09:49 CDT 2026
