PNSN Regional Moment Tensor Solution Notable PNW Earthquakes
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PNSN Moment Tensor solution for 10111615510c

20101116 15:51 12.3 km W of Morton, WA
Lat=46.56100, Lon=-122.43533, Depth=14.7, Md=4.2

Moment magnitude4.1
Scalar moment1.82699 * 1022 dyn-cm
Percent double couple87.0%
Percent CLVD13.0%
Moment tensor elements (* 1022 dyn-cm)
Mxx: -1.7648Mxy: -0.52365Mxz: -0.34033
Mxy: -0.52365Myy: 0.54583Myz: 0.71432
Mxz: -0.34033Myz: 0.71432Mzz: 1.21901
Fault Option 1Fault Option 2
Strike(deg)253.0132.0
Dip(deg)58.051.0
Rake(deg)48.0137.0

Solution details

This is a deviatoric moment tensor solution and would not properly represent an explosive earthquake source. The moment tensor is a simplified representation of the seismic source that assumes that the earthquake occurred on one point on the map. Slip on a planar fault results in a pure double couple source. The moment tensor allows for sources that are more complicated than that. Any non-double couple components should be regarded with suspicion as they can be caused by a flawed velocity model (and corresponding synthetic seismograms). Currently, we use simple 1D velocity models that work well to locate earthquakes, however, we have not yet adequately tested how well they reproduce long-period ground motions. The double couple fault plane solution tends to be fairly robust and often compares well with the P wave first motion focal mechanism.

Solution parameters for 10111615510c
Number of stations 5
Period range of data 20-50s
Data type full waveform velocity traces
Preferred event depth 15 km
Scalar Moment 1.82699 dyn-cm
Moment Magnitude 4.1
Variance Reduction 56.38 %
Percent Double Couple 87.0 %
Percent CLVD 13.0 %
Solution Quality FAIR

Waveform Matches




Instrument-corrected and bandpassed (20-50s) velocity traces are shown in black. Synthetics are shown in red and also have been bandpassed (20-50s). The velocity model used was vel.C3:
P Velocity (km/s)Top of Layer (km)
5.10.0
6.01.0
6.610.0
6.818.0
7.134.0
7.843.0
Shear wave velocities are calculated from the Pwave velocities using a Vp/Vs ratio of 1.78.

Acknowledgement
This moment tensor was generated with software based on MTPACKAGEv1.1 by Doug Dreger of Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and Green's functions were computed using the FKPROG software developed by Chandan Saikia of URS.