scholarly journals Long-period mechanism of the 8 November 1980 Eureka, California, earthquake

1982 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 439-456
Author(s):  
Thorne Lay ◽  
Jeffrey W. Given ◽  
Hiroo Kanamori

Abstract The seismic moment and source orientation of the 8 November 1980 Eureka, California, earthquake (Ms = 7.2) are determined using long-period surface and body wave data obtained from the SRO, ASRO, and IDA networks. The favorable azimuthal distribution of the recording stations allows a well-constrained mechanism to be determined by a simultaneous moment tensor inversion of the Love and Rayleigh wave observations. The shallow depth of the event precludes determination of the full moment tensor, but constraining Mzx = Mzy = 0 and using a point source at 16-km depth gives a major double couple for period T = 256 sec with scalar moment M0 = 1.1 · 1027 dyne-cm and a left-lateral vertical strike-slip orientation trending N48.2°E. The choice of fault planes is made on the basis of the aftershock distribution. This solution is insensitive to the depth of the point source for depths less than 33 km. Using the moment tensor solution as a starting model, the Rayleigh and Love wave amplitude data alone are inverted in order to fine-tune the solution. This results in a slightly larger scalar moment of 1.28 · 1027 dyne-cm, but insignificant (<5°) changes in strike and dip. The rake is not well enough resolved to indicate significant variation from the pure strike-slip solution. Additional amplitude inversions of the surface waves at periods ranging from 75 to 512 sec yield a moment estimate of 1.3 ± 0.2 · 1027 dyne-cm, and a similar strike-slip fault orientation. The long-period P and SH waves recorded at SRO and ASRO stations are utilized to determine the seismic moment for 15- to 30-sec periods. A deconvolution algorithm developed by Kikuchi and Kanamori (1982) is used to determine the time function for the first 180 sec of the P and SH signals. The SH data are more stable and indicate a complex bilateral rupture with at least four subevents. The dominant first subevent has a moment of 6.4 · 1026 dyne-cm. Summing the moment of this and the next three subevents, all of which occur in the first 80 sec of rupture, yields a moment of 1.3 · 1027 dyne-cm. Thus, when the multiple source character of the body waves is taken into account, the seismic moment for the Eureka event throughout the period range 15 to 500 sec is 1.3 ± 0.2 · 1027 dyne-cm.

1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-434
Author(s):  
Jeffery S. Barker ◽  
Charles A. Langston

abstract Teleseismic P-wave first motions for the M ≧ 6 earthquakes near Mammoth Lakes, California, are inconsistent with the vertical strike-slip mechanisms determined from local and regional P-wave first motions. Combining these data sets allows three possible mechanisms: a north-striking, east-dipping strike-slip fault; a NE-striking oblique fault; and a NNW-striking normal fault. Inversion of long-period teleseismic P and SH waves for the events of 25 May 1980 (1633 UTC) and 27 May 1980 (1450 UTC) yields moment tensors with large non-double-couple components. The moment tensor for the first event may be decomposed into a major double couple with strike = 18°, dip = 61°, and rake = −15°, and a minor double couple with strike = 303°, dip = 43°, and rake = 224°. A similar decomposition for the last event yields strike = 25°, dip = 65°, rake = −6°, and strike = 312°, dip = 37°, and rake = 232°. Although the inversions were performed on only a few teleseismic body waves, the radiation patterns of the moment tensors are consistent with most of the P-wave first motion polarities at local, regional, and teleseismic distances. The stress axes inferred from the moment tensors are consistent with N65°E extension determined by geodetic measurements by Savage et al. (1981). Seismic moments computed from the moment tensors are 1.87 × 1025 dyne-cm for the 25 May 1980 (1633 UTC) event and 1.03 × 1025 dyne-cm for the 27 May 1980 (1450 UTC) event. The non-double-couple aspect of the moment tensors and the inability to obtain a convergent solution for the 25 May 1980 (1944 UTC) event may indicate that the assumptions of a point source and plane-layered structure implicit in the moment tensor inversion are not entirely valid for the Mammoth Lakes earthquakes.


1976 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 1485-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Burdick ◽  
George R. Mellman

abstract The generalized linear inverse technique has been adapted to the problem of determining an earthquake source model from body-wave data. The technique has been successfully applied to the Borrego Mountain earthquake of April 9, 1968. Synthetic seismograms computed from the resulting model match in close detail the first 25 sec of long-period seismograms from a wide range of azimuths. The main shock source-time function has been determined by a new simultaneous short period-long period deconvolution technique as well as by the inversion technique. The duration and shape of this time function indicate that most of the body-wave energy was radiated from a surface with effective radius of only 8 km. This is much smaller than the total surface rupture length or the length of the aftershock zone. Along with the moment determination of Mo = 11.2 ×1025 dyne-cm, this radius implies a high stress drop of about 96 bars. Evidence in the amplitude data indicates that the polarization angle of shear waves is very sensitive to lateral structure.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1423-1444
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Barker ◽  
Charles A. Langston

abstract Seismograms from WWSSN and Canadian network stations were modeled to determine the source parameters of the 20 June 1978 Thessaloniki, Greece, earthquake (Ms = 6.4). The depth of the initial rupture was constrained to 11 ± 1 km by comparison of the arrival times of surface reflections with synthetic short-period seismograms. A focal sphere plot of first motion polarities provided little constraint on other focal parameters, except to indicate that predominantly normal faulting was involved. A generalized inverse technique utilizing the moment tensor formalism was applied to teleseismic P and SH waves for six increments of depth. The moment tensor obtained indicated a nearly horizontal, N-trending tension axis and a nearly vertical compression axis, and yielded the following double-couple source parameters: strike 280° ± 7°; dip 55° ± 3°; rake −65° ± 5°; seismic moment 5.7 × 1025 dyne-cm; and a skewed triangular source time function with a rise time of about 1 sec and duration of 6 to 8 sec. Due to indications of multiple or finite source effects for this event, and the assumption in the moment tensor formalism of a point source, a low-pass filter was applied to the data and the inversions were repeated. The results were nearly identical with those of the original inversion, suggesting that any individual sources had similar mechanisms, or that the point source model is sufficient for this earthquake.


1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 847-857
Author(s):  
Gerhard Müller

abstract The moment function of an explosion is introduced, using the equivalence of an explosive point source and three mutually perpendicular linear dipoles. The seismic moment of an explosion is the final value, for large times, of the moment function. Its relation to source parameters is similar to that of the moment of an earthquake: M1 = (λ + 2μ)S1D1 (λ, μ = Lamé's parameters, S1 = surface area of a sphere surrounding the explosion in the elastic zone, D1 = static radial displacement on this sphere). From strain observations of other authors (Romig et al., 1969; Smith et al., 1969), the moment of the underground nuclear explosion BENHAM is estimated to be about 1024 dyne cm. This moment value supports the assumption that the source-time function for the long-period radiation from large nuclear explosions (periods greater than about 10 sec) is essentially a step-function. On the other hand, a quantitative estimate of the long-period P-wave spectrum of the explosions JORUM, HANDLEY and MILROW and a comparison with observed spectra of Molnar (1971) for JORUM and HANDLEY and Wyss et al. (1971) for MILROW support the assumption of an impulsive source-time function. This discrepancy, which is typical of current opinions among seismologists, is not resolved. It is concluded that an explosive point source is possibly not a sufficient model for the long-time radiation and the static displacement field of a nuclear underground explosion whose elastic radius is about equal to its depth and which is detonated in a prestressed medium.


1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 1390-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bowers ◽  
John A. Hudson

Abstract We compare several published definitions of the scalar moment M0, a measure of the size of a seismic disturbance derived from the second-order seismic moment tensor M (with eigenvalues m1 ≥ m3 ≥ m2). While arbitrary, a useful definition is in terms of a total moment, MT0 = MI + MD, where MI = |M|, with M = (m1 + m2 + m3)/3, is the isotropic moment, and MD = max(|mj − M|; j = 1, 2, 3), is the deviatoric moment. This definition is consistent with other definitions of M0 if M is a double couple. This definition also gives physically appealing and simple results for the explosion and crack sources. Furthermore, our definitions of MT0, MI and MD are in accord with the parameterization of the moment tensor into a deviatoric part (represented by T which lies in [−1,1]) and a volumetric part (represented by k which lies in [−1, 1]) proposed by Hudson et al. (1989).


1989 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 493-499
Author(s):  
Stuart A. Sipkin

Abstract The teleseismic long-period waveforms recorded by the Global Digital Seismograph Network from the two largest Superstition Hills earthquakes are inverted using an algorithm based on optimal filter theory. These solutions differ slightly from those published in the Preliminary Determination of Epicenters Monthly Listing because a somewhat different, improved data set was used in the inversions and a time-dependent moment-tensor algorithm was used to investigate the complexity of the main shock. The foreshock (origin time 01:54:14.5, mb 5.7, Ms 6.2) had a scalar moment of 2.3 × 1025 dyne-cm, a depth of 8 km, and a mechanism of strike 217°, dip 79°, rake 4°. The main shock (origin time 13:15:56.4, mb 6.0, Ms 6.6) was a complex event, consisting of at least two subevents, with a combined scalar moment of 1.0 × 1026 dyne-cm, a depth of 10 km, and a mechanism of strike 303°, dip 89°, rake −180°.


1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 593-613
Author(s):  
Terry C. Wallace ◽  
Donald V. Helmberger ◽  
Gladys R. Engen

abstract In this paper, we study the long-period body waves at regional and upper mantle distances from large underground nuclear explosions at Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site. A comparison of the seismic records from neighboring explosions shows that the more recent events have much simpler waveforms than those of the earlier events. In fact, many of the early events produced waveforms which are very similar to those produced by shallow, moderate-size, strike-slip earthquakes; the phase sP is particularly obvious. The waveforms of these explosions can be modeled by assuming that the explosion is accompanied by tectonic release represented by a double couple. A clear example of this phenomenon is provided by a comparison of GREELEY (1966) and KASSERI (1975). These events are of similar yields and were detonated within 2 km of each other. The GREELEY records can be matched by simply adding synthetic waveforms appropriate for a shallow strike-slip earthquake to the KASSERI observations. The tectonic release for GREELEY has a moment of 5 ՠ1024 dyne-cm and is striking approximately 340°. The identification of the sP phase at upper mantle distances indicates that the source depth is 4 km or less. The tectonic release time function has a short duration (less than 1 sec). A comparison of these results with well-studied strike-slip earthquakes on the west coast and eastern Nevada indicate that, if tectonic release is triggered fault motion, then the tectonic release is relatively high stress drop, on the order of several hundred bars. It is possible to reduce these stress drops by a factor of 2 if the tectonic release is a driven fault; i.e., rupturing with the P velocity. The region in which the stress is released for a megaton event has a radius of about 4 km. Pahute Mesa events which are detonated within this radius of a previous explosion have a substantially reduced tectonic release.


2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (2A) ◽  
pp. 891-900
Author(s):  
Yan Xu ◽  
Keith D. Koper ◽  
Relu Burlacu ◽  
Robert B. Herrmann ◽  
Dan-Ning Li

Abstract Because of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, the Yunnan Province of southwestern China has some of the highest levels of seismic hazard in the world. In such a region, a catalog of moment tensors is important for estimating seismic hazard and helping understand the regional seismotectonics. Here, we present a new uniform catalog of moment tensor solutions for the Yunnan region. Using a grid-search technique to invert seismic waveforms recorded by the permanent regional network in Yunnan and the 2 yr ChinArray deployment, we present 1833 moment tensor solutions for small-to-moderate earthquakes that occurred between January 2000 and December 2014. Moment magnitudes in the new catalog vary from Mw 2.2 to 6.1, and the catalog is complete above Mw∼3.5–3.6. The moment tensors are constrained to be purely double-couple and show a variety of faulting mechanisms. Normal faulting events are mainly concentrated in northwest Yunnan, while farther south along the Sagaing fault the earthquakes are mostly thrust and strike slip. The remaining area includes all three styles of faulting but mostly strike slip. We invert the moment tensors for the regional stress field and find a strong correlation between spatially varying maximum horizontal stress and Global Positioning System observations of horizontal ground velocity. The stress field reveals clockwise rotation around the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, with northwest–southeast compression to the east of the Red River fault changing to northeast–southwest compression west of the fault. Almost 88% of the centroid depths are shallower than 16 km, consistent with a weak and ductile lower crust.


1989 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Jost ◽  
R. B. Herrmann

Abstract A review of a moment tensor for describing a general seismic point source is presented to show a second order moment tensor can be related to simpler seismic source descriptions such as centers of expansion and double couples. A review of literature is followed by detailed algebraic expansions of the moment tensor into isotropic and deviatoric components. Specific numerical examples are provided in the appendices for use in testing algorithms for moment tensor decomposition.


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