Estimation of the seismic moment tensor from teleseismic body wave data with applications to intraplate and mantle earthquakes

Journal Article · Thu Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB085iB07p03817· OSTI ID:5175140

Fitch, T J; McCowan, D W; Shields, M W

Amplitude data from direct and near-source reflected phases are inverted to obtain point-source moment tensors. The inversion scheme is computationally efficient, and the results can be interpreted without the uniqueness problems that plague many geophysical inversion schemes. This follows from the linear relationship between the moment tensor components and the recorded waveforms. The L1 norm is used as an optimum solution criterion, therby allowing first motions to be included in the data set. A mixed data set is warranted when only a small number of amplitude measurements are available. Displacement amplitudes at the recording stations are estimated by seismogram modeling in the case of the shallow earthquake and by the application of an optimum lag inverse filter in the case of the deep earthquake. The inverse filter is designed to remove the combined effects of the recording system and signal distortion owing to anelasticity.Results demonstrate that the inversion of body wave amplitude data for the unconstained moment tensor can yield essentially pure double couples.

• Research Organization: Applied Seismology Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
• OSTI ID: 5175140
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 85:B7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CARIBBEAN SEA
EARTHQUAKES
EARTH MANTLE
SEISMIC WAVES
GEOLOGIC FISSURES
MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
OCEANIC CRUST
PLATE TECTONICS
RIFT ZONES
SEISMIC P WAVES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SEISMOLOGY
ATLANTIC OCEAN
EARTH CRUST
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
SEAS
SEISMIC EVENTS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
580201* - Geophysics- Seismology & Tectonics- (1980-1989)