moment tensor
A mathematical representation of the movement on a fault during an earthquake, comprising of nine generalized couples, or nine sets of two vectors. The tensor depends of the source strength and fault orientation. It is often represented with "beach balls" just like the focal mechanism (or fault plane solution).
See also seismic moment and fault plane solution.
The nine generalized couples of the seismic moment tensor. Modified after Aki and Richards (1980).
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