CrazyBeachball: A MATLAB GUI-based software package for focal mechanism inversion
We present CrazyBeachball, a MATLAB-based graphical user interface (GUI) software package designed for focal mechanism inversion using P-wave first-motion polarity and S/P amplitude ratio data. CrazyBeachball integrates seismic waveform visualization, first-motion polarity picking, and focal mechanism inversion into a single, interactive platform. Unlike conventional methods that involve separate, independent steps, CrazyBeachball streamlines the process and eliminates the need for external data conversion. Its user-friendly interface allows for efficient focal mechanism determination, while its human-machine interaction facilitates enhanced quality control. We demonstrate its effectiveness by determining focal mechanisms for 21 aftershocks from the 2021 M S 6.4 Yangbi earthquake sequence, with results aligning with the regional stress field and fault zone geometry. This open-source software package also allows for user customization, enabling adaptation for specific research needs.
Authors
- Chunquan Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8681-8572)
- Xianwei Zeng
Institutions
- Southern University of Science and Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Earthquake Science
- Published
- 2025-09-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqs.2025.06.003
- Primary Topic
- Seismology and Earthquake Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00