Information message about the strong earthquake on the northern coast of West Papua, Indonesia, September 24, 2015

     The strong earthquake M=6.3 has occurred on September 24, 2015 at 15:53 GMT (18:53 Moscow time) on the north coast of West Papua, Indonesia.
     Parameters of the earthquake have been determined in the Alert Service (AS) of Information Processing Center (IPC) of Geophysical Survey of RAS in Obninsk with station data obtained from digital and analog seismic stations of Russia, countries of CIS and from abroad. Alert message on this earthquake has been delivered in 15 min after registration to the Ministry of Emergency of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM).
     Preliminary processing has been done with data from 28 stations, accurate processing - with data 61 stations.
     Fig. 1 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Tennant Creek (∆ 19.5º), Stephens Creek (∆ 32.6º), Taejon (∆ 37º), Matsushiro (∆ 37.5º), Ussuriysk (∆ 44.6º). Fig. 2 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (∆ 48.5º), Kuldur (∆ 49.7º), Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Group (∆ 57.9º), Magadan (∆ 61.9º), Jazator (∆ 62.5º).

Figure 1
 

Figure 2
 
     IPC GS RAS also has obtained information with parameters of this event from some seismological centers, these data are given in table 1:
Table 1
NN Time in origin h-min-s (GMT) Lat degr. Lon degr. Depth km N s/st Ms/ N mb/ N I0 calc GAP Center
1 15-53-28.1 -0.61 131.17  33  61  6.3/266.7/357-7.5 131 IPC GS RAS (Accurate)
2 15-53-25.3 -0.69 130.94  10  28   6.6/139-9.5  IPC GS RAS (Preliminary)
3 15-53-32.7 -0.6 131.21  46  199  Mw 6.9/26   CSEM
4 15-53-28.7 -0.63 131.25  24  173  Mw 6.6 6.5  19 NEIC
  • IPC GS RAS - Informational Processing Center, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • CSEM - European - Mediterranean seismological center
  • NEIC - National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
  • Epicenter
         Fig. 3 presents with red star the epicenter of this earthquake, its origin was located on the northern coast of West Papua, Indonesia, at the depth of 33 km, 29 km N of Sorong, 475 km N-E of Ambon and 740 km E-S-E of Manado.

    Figure 3
    Aftershock
         GS RAS registered aftershock М=4.9 within 9 hours after the main shock.
    N Date   &   Time (GMT)
    yy-mm-dd hh:mm:sec
    Lat
    degr.
    Lon
    degr.
    Depth
    km
    N
    station
    Ms/ N mb/ N Io
    calc.
    Region
    201533952015-09-25 00:41:08.0-0.7131.183323-4.9/ 163-3.5 Irian Jaya region, Indonesia
    Macroseismic manifestations
         According to ITAR-TASS as a result of the earthquake, 62 people were injured and about 200 homes destroyed.
    Historical records
         This earthquake has occurred 67 km W of strong earthquake on January 3, 2009 М=7.3. Than 4 persons were killed by the earthquake.
    Focal mechanism and seismic moment of the earthquake
         Focal mechanism solution of the origin was obtained in IPC GS RAS with signs of initial arrivals of P waves at 61 stations, including 54 stations which registered compression waves (plus signs) and 17 stations which registered tensile waves (minus signs). The stations are located in the interval of epicentral distances 9,5-96º and azimuth alignment Az = 9-359º. Fig 4. presents focal mechanism solution in stereographic projection at the lower hemisphere obtained by IPC GS RAS, Fig.5 presents focal mechanism solution obtained in USGS NEIC with Moment Tensor (Mww) technique, Fig.6 presents focal mechanism solution obtained in Quick CMT Catalog (GCMT), USA with Mwc technique. Elements of mechanism are presented in table.2. All solutions obtained in different centers are close. This earthquake has occurred under prevailing action of N-E-S-W oriented compression stress. Nodal planes decline to horizon under the close angles. The motion in origin along both planes presents reverse fault with slip components (for NP1 – left lateral in case of USGS, right lateral – in case of IPC GS RAS and Quick CMT), (for NP2 – right lateral in case of USGS, left lateral in case of IPC GS RAS and Quick CMT). According to USGS NEIC Mo=1.032*10**19 N*m, Mw=6.6, according to Quick CMT Mo=0.92*10**18 N*m, Mw=6.6.
    Table 2
    Axes of main strengths Nodal planes Center
    T P N NP1 NP2
    Pl Azm Pl Azm Pl Azm Stk Dp Slip Stk Dp Slip
    6634912229 2013534437125123 6067IPC GS RAS
    80187931 43012985485126 3697NEIC
    803102210 1012031044104111 4876Quick CMT
  • IPC GS RAS - Informational Processing Center, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences
  • NEIC - National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
  • Quick CMT - Quick CMT catalog

  • Figure 4

    Figure 5

    Figure 6


    News | Catalogs | Wave Forms | Alert Service | Software | Links | Srtucture | Publications | Conferences | Announce | About
    © FRC GS RAS 1993-2018