Northridge aftershocks, a source study with TERRAscope data

Abstract

Broadband and long-period displacement waveforms from a selection of Northridge aftershocks recorded by the TERRAscope array are modeled to study source characteristics. Source mechanisms and moments are determined with long-period data using an algorithm developed by Zhao and Helmberger (1994). These results are compared with those by Hauksson et al. (1995) and Thio and Kanamori (1996). The width of the direct pulses at the nearest stations PAS and CALB are measured as indications of the source duration. Another measurement of the source-time functions of these earthquakes is obtained by comparing the short-period to long-period energy ratio in the data to that in the synthetics. These measurements are used to estimate the relative stress drop using a formula given by Cohn et al. (1982). The depth distribution of the relative stress drops indicates that the largest stress drops are in the depth range of 5 to 15 km for an aftershock population of 24 events. A correlation of extended surface wave train with source depth is demonstrated for paths crossing the San Fernando basin.