Topic Take-Off Angle Calculations For Fault-Plane Solutions and Reconstruction of Nodal Planes From The Parameters of Fault-Plane Solutions

Exercise EX 3.
3

1

Topic Take-off angle calculations for fault-plane solutions and
reconstruction of nodal planes from the parameters of fault-
plane solutions
Author Peter Bormann (formerly GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences,
14473 Potsdam, Germany); E-mail: pb65@gmx.net

Version September 1999; DOI: 10.2312/GFZ.NMSOP-2_EX_3.3

1 Aim

The exercise aims at making familiar with the calculation of the take-off angles AIN of
seismic P-wave rays leaving the seismic source towards the seismic station. These angles are
required for determining fault-plane solutions (FPS) from first-motion polarity readings (see
EX 3.2). Take-off angles depend on the velocity model of the Earth, the source depth h and
the epicentral distance . at which the considered rays arrive at the Earths surface. The AIN
calculated in this exercise for a given event and a number of seismic stations at different
will then be checked whether they are consistent with the reported polarity readings and FPS
calculated for this event by international agencies. For this you will reconstruct on a Lambert-
Schmidt net projection the fault-plane traces from the reported nodal-plane parameters.

2 Data, models and procedure

When localizing near events by using HYPO71 or similar programs the values for both the
azimuth (AZM) and for the take-off angles (AIN) of the rays leaving the source towards the
considered stations are given in the localization output file. One can use them, together with
the first motion polarity readings, straight forward for the determination of fault-plane
solutions (see EX 3.2). When one intends to determine the fault-plane solution for seismic
events published in the bulletins of the International Seismological Centre (ISC) one finds
therein, besides data for polarity readings from the reporting stations ( or c for up and or d
for down in short- or long-period instruments, respectively), only values for the azimuth
(AZM) but not for the respective take-off angle (AIN). Figure 1 shows a typical portion of
event-stations report from the ISC. Its header also gives the seismic moment tensor and fault-
plane solutions calculated by various international data centers or agencies using different
(sometimes automated) procedures. Values for AIN can be calculated by using the
relationship
sin AIN = (180/) (v
P
/r
h
) p(, h). (1)

v
P
(h) is the P-wave velocity at the depth h (in km/s), r
o
=6371 km is the Earths radius and r
h

=r
o
- h. p(, h) =dT/d is the ray parameter; it corresponds to the gradient of the travel-time
curve at the point of observation on the Earths surface (both in units s/deg) at the epicentral
distance (in degree) (see Fig. 2.27) and is a function of the hypocentral depth h (in km). The
value of the ray parameter is identical with that of the horizontal component of the of the
slowness vector. Tables 1 and 2 give the respective values v
P
(h) and p(, h) for P waves.

Exercise EX 3.3

2
Table 1 v
P
(h) according to the IASPEI91 velocity model (Kennett, 1991).

h (km) v
P
(km/s) h (km) v
P
(km/s) h (km) v
P
(km/s)
0
20
20
35
35
71
120
5.8000
5.8000
6.5000
6.5000
8.0400
8.0442
8.0500
120
171
210
271
371
410
410
8.0500
8.1917
8.3000
8.5227
8.8877
9.0300
9.3600
471
571
660
660
671
760
9.5650
9.9010
10.2000
10.7900
10.8192
11.0558

Table 2 Ray parameter p =dT/d (=horizontal slowness component) of Pn, P and PKP
df

first arrivals at the Earths surface as a function of hypocentral depth h according to IASPEI
1991 Seismological Tables (Kennett, 1991)

p (in s/deg)
Phase (in deg) h =0 km h =100 km h =300 km h =600 km

Pn (P)

P

2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62

13.75
13.75
13.74
13.72
13.70
13.67
13.64
12.92
12.33
10.90
10.70
9.14
9.06
8.93
8.85
8.77
8.67
8.56
8.44
8.30
8.17
8.03
7.89
7.55
7.60
7.46
7.31
7.17
7.02
6.88
6.73

12.90
13.49
13.58
13.60
13.59
13.29
12.91
12.43
10.97
10.81
10.58
9.11
9.02
8.90
8.82
8.74
8.64
8.52
8.40
8.26
8.13
7.99
7.85
7.71
7.56
7.42
7.28
7.13
6.99
6.84
6.70

7.91
10.96
11.95
12.25
12.26
12.12
11.03
10.91
10.73
10.50
9.12
9.03
8.91
8.83
8.75
8.65
8.54
8.42
8.29
8.16
8.03
7.89
7.75
7.61
7.47
7.33
7.19
7.05
6.90
6.76
6.62

4.01
6.91
8.60
9.48
9.90
10.05
10.06
9.17
9.10
9.02
8.90
8.83
8.76
8.66
8.56
8.45
8.33
8.21
8.08
7.95
7.82
7.69
7.56
7.42
7.29
7.15
7.02
6.88
6.74
6.61
6.47
Exercise EX 3.3

3
Table 2: cont.

p (in s/deg)
Phase (in deg) h =0 km h =100 km h =300 km h =600 km
P

P
diff

PKP
df

64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
100-144

114
116-122
124-126
130
136
140
142
144
146
148
150
152
154
156
158
160
162
164
166
168
170
172
174
176
178
180
6.59
6.44
6.30
6.15
6.00
5.86
5.71
5.56
5.40
5.25
5.09
4.94
4.74
4.66
4.61
4.58
4.52
4,45
4.44

1.92
1.91
1.90
1.88
1.84
1.80
1.76
1.73
1.68
1.63
1.57
1.49
1.42
1.33
1.24
1.14
1.04
0.93
0.82
0.71
0.59
0.47
0.36
0.24
0.12
0.00
6.55
6.41
6.27
6.12
5.97
5.83
5.68
5.53
5.38
5.22
5.07
4.92
4.72
4.65
4.61
4.57
4.51
4.44
4.44

1.92
1.91
1.90
1.88
1.84
1.79
1.76
(1.72)
1.68
1.62
1.56
1.49
1.41
1.33
1.23
1.14
1.03
0.93
0.82
0.70
0.59
0.47
0.36
0.24
0.12
0.00
6.48
6.33
6.19
6.05
5.90
5.76
5.61
5.46
5.31
5.16
5.01
4.85
4.69
4.64
4.60
4.55
4.49
4.44
4.44

1.92
1.91
1.90
1.88
1.84
1.79
1.76
(1.72)
1.67
1.62
1.55
1.48
1.40
1.32
1.23
1.13
1.03
0.92
0.81
0.70
0.58
0.47
0.35
0.24
0.12
0.00
6.33
6.19
6.05
5.91
5.77
5.63
5.49
5.34
5.20
5.04
4.90
4.72
4.65
4.61
4.57
4.51
4.44
4.44
4.44

1.92
1.91
1.90
1.88
1.83
1.78
1.75
(1.71)
1.66
1.60
1.54
1.47
1.39
1.30
1.21
1.11
1.01
0.91
0.80
0.69
0.58
0.47
0.35
0.23
0.12
0.00
Exercise EX 3.3

4

NEIC Moment-tensor solution: s23, scale 10
17
Nm; M
rr
-3.05;
M
-0.97; M
4.03; M
r
-2.51; M
r
-1.95; M
2.71. Depth
272km; Principal axes: T 6.09, Plg17, Azm117; N -136,
Plg27, Azm216; P -4.73, Plg57, Azm358; Best double
couple: M
o
5.4x10
17
Nm; NP1:
s
172, 36, -140. NP2:

s
48, 68, -60.
HRVD 05
d
13
h
24
m
15
s
.70
s
.2, 39.10N.02x15.39E.02,
h295
km
.8
km
, Centroid moment-tensor solution. Data used:
GDSN; LP body waves: s50, c**; Half duration: 1
s
.9.
Moment tensor: Scale 10
17
Nm; M
rr
-2.17.06;
M
-1.97.10; M
4.14.09; M
r
-3.51.09; M
r
--3.29.09;
M
0.01.09. Principal Axes: T 5.83, Plg27, Azm103;

N 0.32, Plg30, Azm210; P -6.15, Plg48, Azm339. Best
Double couple: M
o
6.0x10
17
Nm, NP1:
s
146, 33, -157.
NP2:
s
37, 78, -60.
ISC 05
d
13
h
24
m
11
s
.40
s
.13, 39.160
s
.16x15.18E.014,
h290
km
1.3
km
, (h286km2.7
km
:pP-P), n757, 1
s
.04/729,
Mb5.7/107, 119C-155D, Southern Italy.

OVO Vesuviano 1.77 340 iP 13 24 57.2 +1.5
MCT Mte Cammarata 1.95 219 P 13 24 57.7 +0.6
FG4 Candela 1.99 8 P 13 24 58.2 +0.9
MEU Monte Lauro 2.07 186 dP 13 24 56.8 -1.3
PZI Palazzolo 2.14 186 eP 13 24 57 -1.7
FAI Favara 2.21 213 dP 13 24 59.5 +0.1
MSC Monte Massico 2.23 336 iP 13 25 01.1 +1.6
SGG Gregorio Matese 2.30 345 iP 13 25 01.9 +1.8

Figure 1 Typical section of an ISC bulletin (left) with NEIC (National Earthquake
Information Center) and Harvard University (HRVD) moment-tensor fault-plane solutions
(right) for the Italy deep earthquake (h =286 km) of J an. 05, 1994. Columns 3 to 5 of the
bulletin give the following data: 3 - epicentral distance in degrees, 4 - azimuth AZM in
degrees, 5 - phase code and polarity.

Table 3 gives respective selected data from the ISC bulletin for five seismic stations at
different epicentral distances () and azimuth (AZM) for the Italy earthquake shown in Figure
1. The polarity readings correspond to the first P ( <100 ) or PKP ( >110 ) onsets.

Table 3

STA
(deg)
AZM
(deg)
POL v
P
(h)
km/s
v
P
/r
h

(s
-1
)
p(,h)
(s/deg)
AIN
(deg)
AZMc
(deg)
AINc
(deg)
SGG
KHC
BTH
ZAK
PAE
2.30
10.03
12.25
60.02
154.8
345
354
294
48
324
+
-
+
-
-

Exercise EX 3.3

5

3 Tasks

Task 1:
For the data given in Table 3, calculate the missing values in the blank columns for v
P
(h),
v
P
/r
h
, p(, h) and AIN using Table 1 and 2 and assuming an approximate focal depth for the
recorded event of h =300 km. Interpolate linearly as a first approximation.

Task 2:
Decide whether your ray has left the upper or lower half of the focal sphere and whether or
not you need to calculate AINc and/or AZMc according to Figs. 3.28 and 3.29 in Chapter 3.
Complete Table 3 accordingly.

Task 3:
Use the values given in Figure 1 for and for the nodal planes NP1 and NP2 of the NEIC
fault-plane solution. Reconstruct both nodal (fault) planes using the Lambert-Schmidt net
(Fig. 3.27b) by applying the procedure inverse to the one described in the Exercise :
Determination of fault-plane solutions (EX 3.2). Compare your nodal-plane pattern with that
of the NEIC "beach-ball" solution (Figure 1 upper right).

Task 4:
Find the corresponding equatorial plane to your NP1 and NP2 and mark the locations of the P
and T axes on the focal sphere. Draw the P and T vectors towards and from the center of the
net, determine their azimuth (Azm) and plunge (Plg) [equivalent to dip, measured from the
horizontal]. Compare your respective values with those given by NEIC in Figure 1.

Task 5:
Use the values that you calculated for the P-wave take-off angle AINc and ray azimuth
AZMc to all 5 stations in Table 3 and mark the point where the ray penetrates the focal sphere
and indicate the respective polarity. Check whether they fall into the proper T and P quadrants
and whether the short-period polarity readings given in Table 3 are consistent with the fault-
plane solution published by the NEIC which is based on long-period waveform data.

4 Solutions and discussions

Table 4 Solutions for Task 1.

STA
(deg)
AZM
(deg)
POL v
P
(h)
km/s
v
P
/r
h

(s
-1
)
p(,h)
(s/deg)
AIN
(deg)
AZMc
(deg)
AINc
(deg)

SGG
KHC
BTH
ZAK
PAE

2.30
10.03
12.25
60.02
154.8

345
354
294
48
324

+
-
+
-
-

8.6286

1.4213
10
-3

8.368
12.258
11.984
6.759
1.368

(137.0)
86.5
77.4.1
33.4
6.4

165

43.0

Exercise EX 3.3

6

Task 2:
Note: In the case of deep earthquakes the values of the ray parameter (and thus slowness)
may increase with , e.g., in Table 2 for h =300 km up to =10. This corresponds to
seismic rays that leave the source upwards! Consequently, the value AIN =43.0 calculated
with Equation (1) for station SGG corresponds, according to the definition given in Fig. 3.28,
in fact to an angle of 180 - AIN =137.0. Accordingly, AZMc and AINc for the equivalent
lower hemisphere projection of this ray are 345-180 =165 and 43.0, respectively.

Task 3:
Your manually drawn fault-plane solutions should look very similar to that of the NEIC
solution in Figure 1 upper right.

Task 4:
Your manually re-constructed values for Azm and Plg of the P and T axes should agree with
the NEIC solution within a few degrees (<10). If not, check your drawing of the three planes,
of the related P and T axis and the measured angles.

Task 5:
The short-period polarity data used in this exercise are consistent with the fault-plane solution
published by the NEIC which is based on long-period waveform data. All your polarities
should fall properly into quadrants of either observed compressional or dilatational P-wave
first motions.

References

Kennett, B. L. N. (Ed.) (1991). IASPEI 1991 Seismological Tables. Research School of Earth
Sciences, Australian National University, 167 pp.

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Exercise EX 3.

0.01.09. Principal Axes: T 5.83, Plg27, Azm103;

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