Hence, a reliable retrieval of seismic moment tensors is still hampered in many cases, especially at regional event-receiver distances.To sample the entire wavefield due to a seismic source we need six components: three translational and three rotational ones. However, various factors influence the reliability of the inversion result, several of them are mutually dependent. The basic underlying theory is established since decades.
Seismic moment tensors are an important tool in geosciences on all spatial scales and for a broad range of applications.
