Source-mechanism from spectra of long-period seismic surface waves.

Abstract

Abstract Source-mechanism is derived from amplitude and phase spectra of mantle Love and Rayleigh waves of the Alaska earthquake of July 10, 1958. The signals R2, R3, G2, G4, G5 recorded on the Gilman 80–90 and the Press-Ewing 30–90 seismograph systems at Pasadena, California, are separated, digitized, filtered and Fourier-analyzed. An agreement between theory and observations is obtained for a unilateral fault of 300–350 km, which ruptured with a speed of 3-3.5 km/sec in the direction N40°W. Fault length is in good agreement with the extent of aftershock distribution in the month of July, 1958, and the time of rupture checks with the duration of an impressive T-phase recorded at Hawaii. The phases of the signals are corrected for propagation, instrumental shift and the source finiteness. Initial phases thus obtained agree on a mechanism of a right double-couple with a unit step-function in time.