Source-mechanism from spectra of long-period seismic surface waves. 3. The Alaska earthquake of July 10, 1958

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 R_2, R_3, G_2, G_4, G_5 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.