Geophysics Seismology: sources and statistics Concept
Focal mechanism
Summary
The focal mechanism of an earthquake describes the orientation of the fault and the direction of slip on it. It is given by three angles, strike, dip and rake, and is drawn as a "beach ball" diagram. It is found from the pattern of first motions or waveforms of seismic waves, which a double-couple source radiates in a characteristic four-lobed pattern. Focal mechanisms show whether a region is being stretched, compressed or sheared.
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | PZJMC4XY5W |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://PZJMC4XY5W |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 86A15, 86A22 |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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