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High frequency energy radiation of large earthquakes is a key to evaluating shaking damage and is an important source characteristic for understanding rupture dynamics. We developed a new inversion method, Image Deconvolution Back-Projection (IDBP) to retrieve high frequency energy radiation of seismic sources by linear inversion of observed images from a back-projection approach. The observed back-projection image for multiple sources is considered as a convolution of the image of the true radiated energy and the array response for a point source. The array response that spreads energy both in space and time is evaluated by using data of a smaller reference earthquake that can be assumed to be a point source. The synthetic test of the method shows that the spatial and temporal resolution of the source is much better than that for the conventional back-projection method. We applied this new method to the 2001 M w 7.8 Kunlun earthquake using data recorded by Hi-net in Japan. The new method resolves a sharp image of the high frequency energy radiation with a significant portion of supershear rupture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid detection and characterization of megathrust earthquakes is a difficult task given their large rupture zone and duration. These events produce very strong ground vibrations in the near field that can cause weak motion instruments to clip, and they are also capable of generating large-scale tsunamis. The 2011 M 9 Tohoku-oki earthquake that occurred offshore Japan is one member of a series of great earthquakes for which extended geophysical observations are available. Here, we test an automated scanning algorithm for great earthquakes using continuous very long-period (100–200 s) seismic records from K-NET strong-motion seismograms of the earthquake. By continuously performing the cross-correlation of data and Green's functions (GFs) in a moment tensor analysis, we show that the algorithm automatically detects, locates and determines source parameters including the moment magnitude and mechanism of the great Tohoku-oki earthquake within 8 min of its origin time. The method does not saturate. We also show that quasi-finite-source GFs, which take into account the effects of a finite-source, in a single-point source moment tensor algorithm better fit the data, especially in the near-field. We show that this technique allows the correct characterization of the earthquake using a limited number of stations. This can yield information usable for tsunami early warning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]