An optimal strategy for searching the best fault-plane solution using wave-amplitude data

1977 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1355-1362
Author(s):  
Kailash Khattri

abstract This paper presents an optimum search procedure known as the Fibonacci Technique for abstracting the earthquake-source parameters from the amplitude data of seismic waves. The power of the method has been demonstrated by determining the fault-plane solution of a deep-focus earthquake using the P-wave spectral amplitude data.

1970 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 639-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umesh Chandra

abstract The seismograms of the deep focus Peru-Bolivia border earthquake of August 15, 1963 reveal the presence of a number of conspicuous phases occurring within 15 seconds of the first P onset. These phases cannot be explained on the basis of known travel-time curves. Accordingly, the earthquake is interpreted to have occurred in a series of jerks during the course of fault propagation, or in other words it is composed of multiple events. Only one of these events, following the first event, at which the amplitude of the recorded motion becomes suddenly very large, has been located in this study. The focal mechanism solution of this earthquake has been determined from the P wave first motion and amplitude data. Consideration of the direction of rupture propagation determined from the multiple event analysis makes it possible to identify the fault plane in the mechanism solution. The parameters of the fault plane, length and speed of rupture between the two events have been determined.


1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Amato ◽  
R. Azzara ◽  
A. Basili ◽  
C. Chiarabba ◽  
M. Cocco ◽  
...  

n this paper we describe the location and the fault plane solution of the December 13, 1990, Eastern Sicily earthquake (ML = 5.4), and of its aftershock sequence. Because the main shock location is not well constrained due to the geometry of the permanent National Seismic Network in this area, we used a "master event" algorithm to locate it in relation to a well located aftershock. The revised location is slightly offshore Eastern Sicily, 4.8 km north of the largest aftershock (ML = 4.6) that occurred on December 16, 1990. The main shock has a strike-slip mechanism, indicating SE-NW compression with either left lateral motion on a NS plane, or right lateral on an EW plane. Two days after the main event we deployed a local network of eight digital stations, that provided accurate locations of the aftershocks, and the estimate of source parameters for the strongest earthquake. We observed an unusual quiescence after the ML = 5.4 event, that lasted until December 16, when a ML = 4.6 earthquake occurred. The fault plane solution of this aftershock shows normal faulting on E-W trending planes. Between December 16 and January 6, 1991, a sequence of at least 300 aftershock" was recorded by the local network. The well located earthquakes define a small source region of approximately 5 x 2 x 5 km3, with hypocentral depths ranging between 15 and 20 km. The paucity of large aftershocks, the time gap between the main shock occurrence and the beginning of the aftershock sequence (3.5 days), their different focal mechanisms (strike-slip vs. normal), and the different stress drop between main shock and after- shock suggest that the ML = 5.4 earthquake is an isolated event. The sequence of aftershocks began with the ML = 4.6 event, which is probably linked to the main shock with a complex mechanism of stress redistribution after the main faulting episode.


1963 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 643-659
Author(s):  
Keichi Kasahara

Abstract Two representative hypotheses on earthquake mechanism (so-called force types I and II) have been examined in comparison with seismograms for the earthquake of February 18, 1956 (south off Honshu, Japan; h = 450 km). On the basis of the fault-plane solution derived from P-wave data, one can predict polarity and relative amplitude of shear wave phases for a given station. The prediction by both of the hypotheses is compared with the observations at Kiruna and several other stations, where the principal seismic phases have been recorded clearly. The comparison has proved that the force type I does not fit the present case. The second type, on the other hand, explains the observations more consistently, although there are minor disagreements with respect to later phases. Reduction of the recorded wave form by an analog computer has shown that the original seismic disturbance (S) from the source is very simple in its wave form and harmonizes very well with Honda's theory. If we accept his theory, the radius of the origin sphere is estimated at 30-40 km for the present case.


1987 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall A. White ◽  
David H. Harlow ◽  
Salvador Alvarez

The San Salvador earthquake of October 10, 1986 originated along the Central American volcanic chain within the upper crust of the Caribbean Plate. Results from a local seismograph network show a tectonic style main shock-aftershock sequence, with a magnitude, Mw, 5.6. The hypocenter was located 7.3 km below the south edge of San Salvador. The main shock ruptured along a nearly vertical plane toward the north-northeast. A main shock fault-plane solution shows a nearly vertical fault plane striking N32\sz\E, with left-lateral sense of motion. This earthquake is the second Central American volcanic chain earthquake documented with left-lateral slip on a fault perpendicular to the volcanic chain. During the 2 1/2 years preceeding the earthquake, minor microseismicity was noted near the epicenter, but we show that this has been common along the volcanic chain since at least 1953. San Salvador was previously damaged by a volcanic chain earthquake on May 3, 1965. The locations of six foreshocks preceding the 1965 shock show a distinctly WNW-trending distribution. This observation, together with the distribution of damage and a fault-plane solution, suggest that right-lateral slip occurred along a fault sub-parallel with Central American volcanic chain. We believe this is the first time such motion has been documented along the volcanic chain. This earthquake was also unusual in that it was preceded by a foreshock sequence more energetic than the aftershock sequence. Earlier this century, on June 08, 1917, an Ms 6.4 earthquake occurred 30 to 40 km west of San Salvador Volcano. Only 30 minutes later, an Ms 6.3 earthquake occurred, centered at the volcano, and about 35 minutes later the volcano erupted. In 1919 an Ms 6 earthquake occurred, centered at about the epicenter of the 1986 earthquake. We conclude that the volcanic chain is seismically very active with variable styles of seismicity.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1369-1372
Author(s):  
Jay J. Pulli ◽  
Michael J. Guenette

abstract On 23 November 1980, a small (magnitude 2.9) earthquake occurred on the Chelmsford-Lowell, Massachusetts, border, approximately 10 km northeast of the MIT seismic station at Westford, Massachusetts (WFM). Thus we were able to accurately determine the focal depth, which is generally not the case in New England. Our hypocentral solution was latitude 41.63, longitude −71.36, depth 1.5 km, at origin time 00:39:32.0 UTC. The fault plane solution shows either strike-slip or dip-slip faulting with a P axis trending NE-SW, which is in agreement with overcoring measurements in a nearby granite quarry.


1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 599-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. O'Neill ◽  
J. H. Healy

abstract A simple method of estimating source dimensions and stress drops of small earthquakes is presented. The basic measurement is the time from the first break to the first zero crossing on short-period seismograms. Graphs relating these measurements to rise time as a function of Q and instrument response permit an estimate of earthquake source parameters without the calculation of spectra. Tests on data from Rangely, Colorado, and Hollister, California, indicate that the method gives reasonable results.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document