mtuqorg: A Modular Approach to Moment Tensor Estimation and Uncertainty Quantification With MTUQ
Description:
Seismic moment tensors, along with point forces, are used to describe various source mechanisms, including tectonic earthquakes, human-made explosions, and mass movements. Accurately estimating these parameters and rigorously quantifying uncertainties are crucial for enhancing our understanding of seismic sources and reducing ambiguity in their interpretation. The open-source Moment Tensor and Uncertainty Quantification (MTUQ) code provides flexible tools for point-source inversion using seismic waveforms and first-motion polarities, with a focus on balancing computational efficiency and robust uncertainty estimation. We showcase the code's capabilities by revisiting the DPRK nuclear test of September 2017 to evaluate the influence of various data sources on the misfit space, both using a conventional grid-search approach and leveraging the fast Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES) method. We also demonstrate the modularity of the code by supplementing the CMA-ES optimization with the "increase population restart" strategy, which helps map out the misfit space more efficiently and illuminate local minima. MTUQ accommodates a wide range of Green's function databases (both 1D and 3D and receiver side Strain Green's Function), and integrates with high-performance computing architectures, supporting workflows from single-core optimizations to large-scale grid searches spanning billions of grid points. MTUQ also offers tools for visualizing solutions and uncertainties, facilitating better interpretation of inversion results and aiding reproducibility. New users can engage easily through workshops, online resources, and open development channels, ensuring that MTUQ remains a robust and evolving resource for seismic source characterization and forensic seismology.
Session: Advancements in Forensic Seismology and Explosion Monitoring [Poster]
Type: Poster
Date: 4/17/2025
Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Julien
Student Presenter: No
Invited Presentation:
Poster Number: 94
Authors
Julien Thurin Presenting Author Corresponding Author jthurin@alaska.edu University of Alaska Fairbanks |
Ryan Modrak rmodrak@lanl.gov Los Alamos National Laboratory |
Amanda McPherson ammcpherson@alaska.edu University of Alaska Fairbanks |
Felix Rodriguez Cardozo felixr1@usf.edu University of South Florida |
Jochen Braunmiller jbraunmiller@usf.edu University of South Florida |
Liang Ding liangding86@gmail.com Geological Survey of Canada |
Qinya Liu qinya.liu@utoronto.ca University of Toronto |
Jonas Kintner jkintner@lanl.gov Los Alamos National Laboratory |
Jinyin Hu Jinyin.Hu@anu.edu.au Australian National University |
Hrvoje Tkalčić hrvoje.tkalcic@anu.edu.au Australian National University, Canberra, , Australia |
Carl Tape ctape@alaska.edu University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States |
mtuqorg: A Modular Approach to Moment Tensor Estimation and Uncertainty Quantification With MTUQ
Category
Advancements in Forensic Seismology and Explosion Monitoring