Location
Location ANSS
The ANSS event ID is aka2026tuxgky and the event page is at
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/aka2026tuxgky/executive.
2026/10/06 18:34:31 58.802 -153.609 85.6 5.5 Alaska
Focal Mechanism
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
ENS 2026/10/06 18:34:31.0 58.80 -153.61 85.6 5.5 Alaska
Stations used:
AK.BRLK AK.KNK AK.O18K AK.O19K AK.P17K AK.SII AK.SWD AT.PMR
AV.ACH AV.ANNW AV.ANPB AV.PLBL AV.RED AV.SPCL II.KDAK
Filtering commands used:
cut o DIST/3.5 -40 o DIST/3.5 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 n 3
Best Fitting Double Couple
Mo = 2.66e+24 dyne-cm
Mw = 5.55
Z = 94 km
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 80 70 30
NP2 339 62 157
Principal Axes:
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 2.66e+24 35 302
N 0.00e+00 54 111
P -2.66e+24 5 208
Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
Component Value
Mxx -1.57e+24
Mxy -1.89e+24
Mxz 8.67e+23
Myy 7.15e+23
Myz -9.53e+23
Mzz 8.55e+23
--------------
#######---------------
############----------------
###############---------------
##################----------------
#####################---------------
###### ##############---------------
####### T ###############---------------
####### ################--------------
############################-------------#
############################----------####
#############################------#######
#############################--###########
--#####################------###########
-----------------------------###########
----------------------------##########
---------------------------#########
--------------------------########
------------------------######
--- -----------------#####
P ----------------###
--------------
Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
R T P
8.55e+23 8.67e+23 9.53e+23
8.67e+23 -1.57e+24 1.89e+24
9.53e+23 1.89e+24 7.15e+23
Details of the solution is found at
http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20261006183431/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 = 80
DIP = 70
RAKE = 30
MW = 5.55
HS = 94.0
The NDK file is 20261006183431.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 |
USGSW |
USGS/SLU Moment Tensor Solution
ENS 2026/10/06 18:34:31.0 58.80 -153.61 85.6 5.5 Alaska
Stations used:
AK.BRLK AK.KNK AK.O18K AK.O19K AK.P17K AK.SII AK.SWD AT.PMR
AV.ACH AV.ANNW AV.ANPB AV.PLBL AV.RED AV.SPCL II.KDAK
Filtering commands used:
cut o DIST/3.5 -40 o DIST/3.5 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 n 3
Best Fitting Double Couple
Mo = 2.66e+24 dyne-cm
Mw = 5.55
Z = 94 km
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 80 70 30
NP2 339 62 157
Principal Axes:
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 2.66e+24 35 302
N 0.00e+00 54 111
P -2.66e+24 5 208
Moment Tensor: (dyne-cm)
Component Value
Mxx -1.57e+24
Mxy -1.89e+24
Mxz 8.67e+23
Myy 7.15e+23
Myz -9.53e+23
Mzz 8.55e+23
--------------
#######---------------
############----------------
###############---------------
##################----------------
#####################---------------
###### ##############---------------
####### T ###############---------------
####### ################--------------
############################-------------#
############################----------####
#############################------#######
#############################--###########
--#####################------###########
-----------------------------###########
----------------------------##########
---------------------------#########
--------------------------########
------------------------######
--- -----------------#####
P ----------------###
--------------
Global CMT Convention Moment Tensor:
R T P
8.55e+23 8.67e+23 9.53e+23
8.67e+23 -1.57e+24 1.89e+24
9.53e+23 1.89e+24 7.15e+23
Details of the solution is found at
http://www.eas.slu.edu/eqc/eqc_mt/MECH.NA/20261006183431/index.html
|
W-phase Moment Tensor (Mww)
Moment 2.554e+17 N-m
Magnitude 5.54 Mww
Depth 70.5 km
Percent DC 85%
Half Duration 1.50 s
Catalog US
Data Source US
Contributor US
Nodal Planes
Plane Strike Dip Rake
NP1 333 62 155
NP2 76 68 30
Principal Axes
Axis Value Plunge Azimuth
T 2.446e+17 37 296
N 0.205e+17 53 108
P -2.651e+17 4 203
|
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/3.5 -40 o DIST/3.5 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 n 3
The results of this grid search are as follow:
DEPTH STK DIP RAKE MW FIT
WVFGRD96 2.0 345 75 -15 4.69 0.3227
WVFGRD96 4.0 345 85 10 4.75 0.3525
WVFGRD96 6.0 160 90 -30 4.81 0.3684
WVFGRD96 8.0 345 80 30 4.88 0.3886
WVFGRD96 10.0 250 60 15 4.91 0.4150
WVFGRD96 12.0 250 60 15 4.94 0.4401
WVFGRD96 14.0 250 65 15 4.97 0.4609
WVFGRD96 16.0 250 65 15 5.00 0.4769
WVFGRD96 18.0 250 65 15 5.03 0.4872
WVFGRD96 20.0 250 65 15 5.05 0.4935
WVFGRD96 22.0 250 65 15 5.08 0.4967
WVFGRD96 24.0 250 65 15 5.10 0.4969
WVFGRD96 26.0 250 70 -10 5.12 0.4956
WVFGRD96 28.0 250 70 -10 5.14 0.4980
WVFGRD96 30.0 250 75 -15 5.16 0.4985
WVFGRD96 32.0 250 75 -15 5.18 0.4984
WVFGRD96 34.0 255 85 -10 5.21 0.4997
WVFGRD96 36.0 75 90 10 5.23 0.5046
WVFGRD96 38.0 255 90 -10 5.27 0.5100
WVFGRD96 40.0 75 85 15 5.31 0.5170
WVFGRD96 42.0 75 80 20 5.33 0.5183
WVFGRD96 44.0 75 80 20 5.35 0.5232
WVFGRD96 46.0 75 80 20 5.37 0.5274
WVFGRD96 48.0 75 80 25 5.38 0.5327
WVFGRD96 50.0 75 75 25 5.40 0.5403
WVFGRD96 52.0 75 75 25 5.41 0.5530
WVFGRD96 54.0 75 75 25 5.42 0.5663
WVFGRD96 56.0 75 75 25 5.44 0.5789
WVFGRD96 58.0 75 75 25 5.45 0.5903
WVFGRD96 60.0 75 75 25 5.45 0.6009
WVFGRD96 62.0 75 70 25 5.46 0.6105
WVFGRD96 64.0 75 80 30 5.48 0.6212
WVFGRD96 66.0 80 75 30 5.49 0.6318
WVFGRD96 68.0 80 75 30 5.50 0.6405
WVFGRD96 70.0 80 75 30 5.50 0.6511
WVFGRD96 72.0 80 75 30 5.51 0.6586
WVFGRD96 74.0 80 75 30 5.52 0.6667
WVFGRD96 76.0 80 70 30 5.52 0.6728
WVFGRD96 78.0 80 70 30 5.52 0.6801
WVFGRD96 80.0 80 70 30 5.53 0.6851
WVFGRD96 82.0 80 70 30 5.53 0.6896
WVFGRD96 84.0 80 70 30 5.53 0.6941
WVFGRD96 86.0 80 70 30 5.54 0.6969
WVFGRD96 88.0 80 70 30 5.54 0.6982
WVFGRD96 90.0 80 70 30 5.54 0.7007
WVFGRD96 92.0 80 70 30 5.55 0.7021
WVFGRD96 94.0 80 70 30 5.55 0.7022
WVFGRD96 96.0 80 70 30 5.55 0.7014
WVFGRD96 98.0 80 70 30 5.56 0.7001
WVFGRD96 100.0 80 70 30 5.56 0.6983
WVFGRD96 102.0 80 70 30 5.56 0.6968
WVFGRD96 104.0 80 70 30 5.56 0.6952
WVFGRD96 106.0 80 70 30 5.57 0.6928
WVFGRD96 108.0 80 70 30 5.57 0.6900
WVFGRD96 110.0 80 70 30 5.57 0.6868
WVFGRD96 112.0 80 65 30 5.56 0.6833
WVFGRD96 114.0 80 65 30 5.57 0.6796
WVFGRD96 116.0 75 70 25 5.56 0.6759
WVFGRD96 118.0 75 70 25 5.56 0.6727
WVFGRD96 120.0 75 70 25 5.56 0.6692
WVFGRD96 122.0 75 70 25 5.57 0.6654
WVFGRD96 124.0 75 70 25 5.57 0.6620
WVFGRD96 126.0 75 70 25 5.57 0.6587
WVFGRD96 128.0 75 70 25 5.57 0.6552
The best solution is
WVFGRD96 94.0 80 70 30 5.55 0.7022
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/3.5 -40 o DIST/3.5 +50
rtr
taper w 0.1
hp c 0.03 n 3
lp c 0.07 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 Oct 6 16:44:18 CDT 2026
