Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters

This paper aims at the understanding of the relationship between the upper and lower hemisphere projection maps of the focal sphere, the correct reading of the focal mechanism parameters on the projection diagram, and to investigate if there is uncertainty about whether the slip angle has a unique s...

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Main Authors: Xuecan Jia, Shengle Li, Zhumei Liu, Chuan Gong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-05-01
Series:Geosystems and Geoenvironment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883822001297
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author Xuecan Jia
Shengle Li
Zhumei Liu
Chuan Gong
author_facet Xuecan Jia
Shengle Li
Zhumei Liu
Chuan Gong
author_sort Xuecan Jia
collection DOAJ
description This paper aims at the understanding of the relationship between the upper and lower hemisphere projection maps of the focal sphere, the correct reading of the focal mechanism parameters on the projection diagram, and to investigate if there is uncertainty about whether the slip angle has a unique solution when there are only two nodal strikes and dip angles. Based on the principle of stereographic projection, the following four expressions and understanding skills about focal mechanism parameters are refined: (1) according to the principle of stereographic projection, we analyzed the difference of the presentation of focal mechanism parameters on different projection maps. There is a 180° rotation relationship between the upper and the lower hemisphere projection map. (2) The method of determining the nodal strike on the upper and lower hemisphere projections: for the former, the observer faces the convex direction of the nodal arc, and the direction to the right of the nodal plane is the stike of the fault. The angle turned clockwise in the north direction is the strike angle of the nodal plane; For the latter, the observer faces the convex direction of the arc of the nodal plane, and the point corresponding to the point on the right side of the nodal plane plus 180° is the strike of the fault. (3) The relationship between the azimuth angles of the P, T and N-axis on upper and lower hemisphere projections: the azimuth angles of the P, T, and N-axis on the upper hemisphere projection map = the azimuth angles of the P, T, and N-axis on the lower hemisphere projection map + 180°. (4) Only the strike and dip angles of two nodal planes are used to derive the rake: according to the slip angle formula, two groups of rake solution can be calculated, indicating that the solution are not unique. The actual slip angle can be determined by combining the hanging wall and footwall and strike of fault, or by combining the actual P-axis and T-axis data, or the first motion of P-waves. Aims to aid accurate understanding and long-term memory of focal mechanism parameters with consistent and simple rules.
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spelling doaj.art-b6315682e67347fd9ce9087e59e7d6cd2023-04-06T06:15:19ZengElsevierGeosystems and Geoenvironment2772-88382023-05-0122100154Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parametersXuecan Jia0Shengle Li1Zhumei Liu2Chuan Gong3Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Wuhan 430071, ChinaCorresponding author.; Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Wuhan 430071, ChinaInstitute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Wuhan 430071, ChinaInstitute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Wuhan 430071, ChinaThis paper aims at the understanding of the relationship between the upper and lower hemisphere projection maps of the focal sphere, the correct reading of the focal mechanism parameters on the projection diagram, and to investigate if there is uncertainty about whether the slip angle has a unique solution when there are only two nodal strikes and dip angles. Based on the principle of stereographic projection, the following four expressions and understanding skills about focal mechanism parameters are refined: (1) according to the principle of stereographic projection, we analyzed the difference of the presentation of focal mechanism parameters on different projection maps. There is a 180° rotation relationship between the upper and the lower hemisphere projection map. (2) The method of determining the nodal strike on the upper and lower hemisphere projections: for the former, the observer faces the convex direction of the nodal arc, and the direction to the right of the nodal plane is the stike of the fault. The angle turned clockwise in the north direction is the strike angle of the nodal plane; For the latter, the observer faces the convex direction of the arc of the nodal plane, and the point corresponding to the point on the right side of the nodal plane plus 180° is the strike of the fault. (3) The relationship between the azimuth angles of the P, T and N-axis on upper and lower hemisphere projections: the azimuth angles of the P, T, and N-axis on the upper hemisphere projection map = the azimuth angles of the P, T, and N-axis on the lower hemisphere projection map + 180°. (4) Only the strike and dip angles of two nodal planes are used to derive the rake: according to the slip angle formula, two groups of rake solution can be calculated, indicating that the solution are not unique. The actual slip angle can be determined by combining the hanging wall and footwall and strike of fault, or by combining the actual P-axis and T-axis data, or the first motion of P-waves. Aims to aid accurate understanding and long-term memory of focal mechanism parameters with consistent and simple rules.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883822001297Focal mechanismNodal parametersStress axis parametersPlanar projectionNormative expression
spellingShingle Xuecan Jia
Shengle Li
Zhumei Liu
Chuan Gong
Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
Geosystems and Geoenvironment
Focal mechanism
Nodal parameters
Stress axis parameters
Planar projection
Normative expression
title Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
title_full Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
title_fullStr Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
title_full_unstemmed Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
title_short Normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
title_sort normative expression and accurate understanding of focal mechanism parameters
topic Focal mechanism
Nodal parameters
Stress axis parameters
Planar projection
Normative expression
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883822001297
work_keys_str_mv AT xuecanjia normativeexpressionandaccurateunderstandingoffocalmechanismparameters
AT shengleli normativeexpressionandaccurateunderstandingoffocalmechanismparameters
AT zhumeiliu normativeexpressionandaccurateunderstandingoffocalmechanismparameters
AT chuangong normativeexpressionandaccurateunderstandingoffocalmechanismparameters