tectoplot

Public outreach with tectoplot

At the Earth Observatory of Singapore, we use tectoplot for rapid event analysis and response, primarily after large earthquakes. Within minutes of receiving a notification, we can create a detailed map and quantitative cross section of the affected area. The output PDFs can be cleaned up in Adobe Illustrator and published within an hour. These data-rich figures differ significantly from the conceptual cartoons that are often the basis for science communication about earthquakes.

Check out ASE Asst. Prof. Judith Hubbard's Twitter feed (@JudithGeology) for other examples of how tectoplot can enable outreach. She also has a web page with a large number of tectoplot maps.

If you are interested in using tectoplot to make these kinds of public-outreach diagrams, please contact me and I can give you some pointers on building an efficient workflow!

Seismicity and focal mechanisms

• • Download and manage global earthquake hypocenter and focal mechanism data from web services: GCMT (https://www.globalcmt.org) - ISC (http://www.isc.ac.uk) - GFZ (https://geofon.gfz-potsdam.de/) - USGS/ANSS (https://www.earthquake.usgs.gov)

• Import custom catalogs

• Catalog functions: Homogenize magnitudes, cull equivalent earthquakes using catalog priority and a time-space-magnitude window

• Calculate all focal mechanism-related parameters as necessary: Moment tensor, nodal plane strike-rake-dip, principal axes, slip vector azimuths

• Plot centroid or origin locations and alternative locations

• B-value analysis, Kostrov summation, declustering (Reasenberg, Gardner-Knopoff)

Select data in many ways

• Select by time, depth, magnitude ranges

• Custom polygon AOI (KML or XY format)

• Select by proximity to Slab2.0 surface

• Select data by Flinn-Engdahl geographic or seismic regions

Highly customizable topography visualizations

• • Hillshade / multi-hillshade / slope / terrain ruggedness index

  • Texture shading (Leland Brown)

  • Sky view factor

  • Cast shadows

  • Gamma correction / percent clip correction

  • RGB image fusion

  • Sentinel cloud-free imagery / Blue Marble

  • DEM extraction and tiling for rapid re-analysis or use in other programs

  • Event labeling based on ID, date, magnitude

Plate motion models

• • MORVELNNR-56, PB2003, GSRM, tdefnode, and custom models

  • Plot plate motion vectors, plate velocity relative to any fixed plate

  • Calculate and plot plate boundary kinematics

  • Plot Euler poles and predicted velocities at points or on a grid

  • Fibonacci spiral grid, or regular lon/lat grid