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# pscoupe

pscoupe - Plot cross-sections of focal mechanisms

## Synopsis

pscoupe [ files ] -Jparameters -R[unit]xmin/xmax/ymin/ymax[r] -Aparameters [ -B[p|s]parameters ] [ -Efill ] [ -Fmode[args] ] [ -Gfill ] [ -K ] [ -L[pen] ] [ -M ] [ -N ] [ -O ] [ -Q ] [ -S<symbol><scale>[/d] ] [ -Tn ] [ -U[just/dx/dy/][c|label] ] [ -V[level] ] [ -Wpen ] [ -X[a|c|f|r][x-shift[u]] ] [ -Y[a|c|f|r][y-shift[u]] ] [ -Zcpt ] [ -ccopies ] [ -h[i|o][n][+c][+d][+rremark][+rtitle] ] [ -icols[l][sscale][ooffset][,...] ] [ -:[i|o] ]

Note: No space is allowed between the option flag and the associated arguments.

## Description

pscoupe reads data values from files [or standard input] and generates PostScript code that will plot symbols, lines or polygons on a cross-section. Focal mechanisms may be specified and require additional columns of data. The PostScript code is written to standard output.

Unless -Q is used, new file is created with the new coordinates (x, y) and the mechanism (from lower focal half-sphere for horizontal plane, to half-sphere behind a vertical plane). When the plane is not horizontal, - north direction becomes upwards steepest descent direction of the plane (u) - east direction becomes strike direction of the plane (s) - down direction (= north^east) becomes u^s Axis angles are defined in the same way as in horizontal plane in the new system. Moment tensor (initially in r, t, f system that is up, south, east) is defined in (-u^s, -u, s) system.

## Required Arguments

table
  One or more ASCII (or binary, see -bi[ncols][type]) data table file(s) holding a number of data columns. If no tables are given then we read from standard input.

-Jparameters (more ...)
  Select map projection.

-Rwest/east/south/north[/zmin/zmax][r]
  west, east, south, and north specify the region of interest, and you may specify them in decimal degrees or in [+-]dd:mm[:ss.xxx][W|E|S|N] format. Append r if lower left and upper right map coordinates are given instead of w/e/s/n. The two shorthands -Rg and -Rd stand for global domain (0/360 and -180/+180 in longitude respectively, with -90/+90 in latitude). Alternatively, specify the name of an existing grid file and the -R settings (and grid spacing, if applicable) are copied from the grid. Using -Runit expects projected (Cartesian) coordinates compatible with chosen -J and we inversely project to determine actual rectangular geographic region. For perspective view (-p), optionally append /zmin/zmax. In case of perspective view (-p), a z-range (zmin, zmax) can be appended to indicate the third dimension. This needs to be done only when using the -Jz option, not when using only the -p option. In the latter case a perspective view of the plane is plotted, with no third dimension. If frame is defined from cross-section parameters (see -A this option is not taken into account, but must be present.
-A
  selects the cross-section.
-Aalon1/lat1/lon2/lat2/dip/p_width/dmin/dmax[f]
  lon and lat are the longitude and latitude of points 1 and 2 limiting the length of the cross-section. dip is the dip of the plane on which the cross-section is made. p_width is the width of the cross-section on each side of a vertical plane or above and under an oblique plane. dmin and dmax are the distances min and max from horizontal plane, along steepest descent direction. Add f to get the frame from the cross-section parameters.
-Ablon1/lat1/strike/p_length/dip/p_width/dmin/dmax[f]
  lon1 and lat1 are the longitude and latitude of the beginning of the cross-section. strike is the azimuth of the direction of the cross-section. p_length is the length along which the cross-section is made. The other parameters are the same as for -Aa option.
-Acx1/y1/x2/y2/dip/p_width/dmin/dmax[f]
  The same as -Aa option with x and y cartesian coordinates.
-Adx1/y1/strike/p_length/dip/p_width/dmin/dmax[f]
  The same as -Ab option with x and y cartesian coordinates.
-S
  selects the meaning of the columns in the data file and the figure to be plotted.
-Sascale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]

  Focal mechanisms in Aki and Richards convention. scale adjusts the scaling of the radius of the “beach ball”, which will be proportional to the magnitude. The scale is the size for magnitude = 5 in PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT (unless c, i, m, or p is appended to indicate that the size information is in units of cm, inches, meters, or points, respectively). Use the -T option to render the beach ball transparent by drawing only the nodal planes and the circumference. The color or shade of the compressive quadrants can be specified with the -G option. The color or shade of the extensive quadrants can be specified with the -E option. Parameters are expected to be in the following columns:

  > 1,2:
  >   longitude, latitude of event (-: option interchanges order)
  > 3:
  >   depth of event in kilometers
  > 4,5,6:
  >   strike, dip and rake
  > 7:
  >   magnitude
  > 8,9:
  >   not used; can be 0 0; allows use of the psmeca file format
  > 10:
  >   text string to appear above the beach ball (default) or under (add u).

-Scscale

  Focal mechanisms in Harvard CMT convention. scale adjusts the scaling of the radius of the “beach ball”, which will be proportional to the magnitude. The scale is the size for magnitude = 5 (that is M0 = 4E+23 dynes-cm.) in PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT (unless c, i, m, or p is appended to indicate that the size information is in units of cm, inches, meters, or points, respectively). Use the -T option to render the beach ball transparent by drawing only the nodal planes and the circumference. The color or shade of the compressive quadrants can be specified with the -G option. The color or shade of the extensive quadrants can be specified with the -E option. Parameters are expected to be in the following columns:

  > 1,2:
  >   longitude, latitude of event (-: option interchanges order)
  > 3:
  >   depth of event in kilometers
  > 4,5,6:
  >   strike, dip, and slip of plane 1
  > 7,8,9:
  >   strike, dip, and slip of plane 2
  > 10,11:
  >   mantissa and exponent of moment in dyne-cm (if magnitude is uses instead of scalar moment, magnitude is in column 10 and 0 must be in column 11)
  > 12,13:
  >   not used; can be 0 0; allows use of the psmeca file format
  > 14:
  >   text string to appear above the beach ball (default) or under (add u).

-Spscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]

  Focal mechanisms given with partial data on both planes. scale adjusts the scaling of the radius of the “beach ball”, which will be proportional to the magnitude. The scale is the size for magnitude = 5 in PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT (unless c, i, m, or p is appended to indicate that the size information is in units of cm, inches, meters, or points, respectively). The color or shade of the compressive quadrants can be specified with the -G option. The color or shade of the extensive quadrants can be specified with the -E option. Parameters are expected to be in the following columns:

  > 1,2:
  >   longitude, latitude of event (-: option interchanges order)
  > 3:
  >   depth
  > 4,5:
  >   strike, dip of plane 1
  > 6:
  >   strike of plane 2
  > 7:
  >   must be -1/+1 for a normal/inverse fault
  > 8:
  >   magnitude
  > 9,10:
  >   not used; can be 0 0; allows use of the psmeca file format
  > 11:
  >   text string to appear above the beach ball (default) or under (add u).

-Sm|d|zscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]
  Seismic moment tensor (Harvard CMT, with zero trace). scale adjusts the scaling of the radius of the “beach ball”, which will be proportional to the magnitude. The scale is the size for magnitude = 5 (that is seismic scalar moment = 4E+23 dynes-cm) in PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT (unless c, i, m, or p is appended to indicate that the size information is in units of cm, inches, meters, or points, respectively). (-T0 option overlays best double couple transparently.)
-Sdscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]
  to plot the only double couple part of moment tensor.
-Szscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]

  to plot anisotropic part of moment tensor (zero trace). The color or shade of the compressive quadrants can be specified with the -G option. The color or shade of the extensive quadrants can be specified with the -E option. Parameters are expected to be in the following columns:

  > 1,2:
  >   longitude, latitude of event (-: option interchanges order)
  > 3:
  >   depth of event in kilometers
  > 4,5,6,7,8,9:
  >   mrr, mtt, mff, mrt, mrf, mtf in 10*exponent dynes-cm
  > 10:
  >   exponent
  > 11,12:
  >   Not used; can be 0 0; allows use of the psmeca file format
  > 13:
  >   Text string to appear above the beach ball (default) or under (add u).

-Sxscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]
  Principal axis. scale adjusts the scaling of the radius of the “beach ball”, which will be proportional to the magnitude. The scale is the size for magnitude = 5 (that is seismic scalar moment = 4*10e+23 dynes-cm) in PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT (unless c, i, m, or p is appended to indicate that the size information is in units of cm, inches, meters, or points, respectively). (-T0 option overlays best double couple transparently.)
-Syscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]
  to plot the only double couple part of moment tensor.
-Stscale[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]

  to plot anisotropic part of moment tensor (zero trace). The color or shade of the compressive quadrants can be specified with the -G option. The color or shade of the extensive quadrants can be specified with the -E option. Parameters are expected to be in the following columns:

  > 1,2:
  >   longitude, latitude of event (-: option interchanges order)
  > 3:
  >   depth of event in kilometers
  > 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12:
  >   value (in 10*exponent dynes-cm), azimuth, plunge of the T, N, and P axes.
  > 13:
  >   exponent
  > 14,15:
  >   longitude, latitude at which to place beach ball. Entries in these columns are necessary with the -C option. Using 0,0 in columns 9 and 10 will plot the beach ball at the longitude, latitude given in columns 1 and 2. The -: option will interchange the order of columns (1,2) and (9,10).
  > 16:
  >   Text string to appear above the beach ball (optional).

## Optional Arguments

-B[p|s]parameters (more ...)
  Set map boundary intervals.
-Efill
  Sets color or fill pattern for extensive quadrants [Default is white].
-Fmode[args]
  Sets one or more attributes; repeatable. The various combinations are
-Fssymbol[size[/fontsize[/offset[u]]]

  selects a symbol instead of mechanism. Choose from the following: (c) circle, (d) diamond, (i) itriangle, (s) square, (t) triangle, (x) cross. size is the symbol size in PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT (unless c, i, m, or p is appended to indicate that the size information is in units of cm, inches, meters, or points, respectively). If size must be read, it must be in column 4 and the text string will start in column 5. Parameters are expected to be in the following columns:

  > 1,2:
  >   longitude, latitude of event (-: option interchanges order)
  > 3:
  >   depth of event in kilometers
  > 4:
  >   Text string to appear above the beach ball (default) or under (add u).

-Fa[size][/P_symbol[/T_symbol]]
  Computes and plots P and T axes with symbols. Optionally specify size and (separate) P and T axis symbols from the following: (c) circle, (d) diamond, (h) hexagon, (i) inverse triangle, (p) point, (s) square, (t) triangle, (x) cross. [Default: 6p/cc]
-Fefill
  Sets the color or fill pattern for the T axis symbol. [Default as set by -E]
-Fgfill
  Sets the color or fill pattern for the P axis symbol. [Default as set by -G]
-Fp[pen]
  Draws the P axis outline using current pen (see -W), or sets pen attributes.
-Fr[fill]
  Draw a box behind the label (if any). [Default fill is white]
-Ft[pen]
  Draws the T axis outline using current pen (see -W), or sets pen attributes.
-Gfill
  Sets color or fill pattern for compressional quadrants [Default is black].

-K (more ...)
  Do not finalize the PostScript plot.
-L[pen]
  Draws the “beach ball” outline using current pen (see -W) or sets pen attributes.
-M
  Same size for any magnitude.
-N
  Does not skip symbols that fall outside map border [Default plots points inside border only].

-O (more ...)
  Append to existing PostScript plot.

-P (more ...)
  Select “Portrait” plot orientation.
-Q
  Suppress the production of files with cross-section and mechanism information.
-T[num_of_planes]
  Plots the nodal planes and outlines the bubble which is transparent. If num_of_planes is 0: both nodal planes are plotted; 1: only the first nodal plane is plotted; 2: only the second nodal plane is plotted [Default: 0].

-U[just/dx/dy/][c|label] (more ...)
  Draw GMT time stamp logo on plot.

-V[level] (more ...)
  Select verbosity level [c].
-W
  set pen attributes for text string or default pen attributes for fault plane edges. [Defaults: width = default, color = black, style = solid].

-X[a|c|f|r][x-shift[u]]

-Y[a|c|f|r][y-shift[u]] (more ...)
  Shift plot origin.
-Zcptfile
  Give a color palette file and let compressive part color be determined by the z-value in the third column.

-ccopies (more ...)
  Specify number of plot copies [Default is 1].

-h[i|o][n][+c][+d][+rremark][+rtitle] (more ...)
  Skip or produce header record(s).

-icols[l][sscale][ooffset][,...] (more ...)
  Select input columns.

-:[i|o] (more ...)
  Swap 1st and 2nd column on input and/or output.

-^
  Print a short message about the syntax of the command, then exits (NOTE: on Windows use just -).
+
  Print an extensive usage (help) message, including the explanation of any module-specific option (but not the GMT common options), then exits.
-?
  Print a complete usage (help) message, including the explanation of options, then exits.
--version
  Print GMT version and exit.
--show-datadir
  Print full path to GMT share directory and exit.

## See Also

gmt, psbasemap, psmeca, psxy

## References

Bomford, G., Geodesy, 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 1980.

Aki, K. and P. Richards, Quantitative Seismology, Freeman, 1980.

F. A. Dahlen and Jeroen Tromp, Theoretical Seismology, Princeton, 1998, p.167. Definition of scalar moment.

Cliff Frohlich, Cliff’s Nodes Concerning Plotting Nodal Lines for P, Sh and Sv

Seismological Research Letters, Volume 67, Number 1, January-February, 1996

Thorne Lay, Terry C. Wallace, Modern Global Seismology, Academic Press, 1995, p.384.

W.H. Press, S.A. Teukolsky, W.T. Vetterling, B.P. Flannery, Numerical Recipes in C, Cambridge University press (routine jacobi)

## Author

Genevieve Patau, Laboratory of Seismogenesis <http://www.ipgp.fr/rech/sismogenese/>, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Departement de Sismologie, Paris, France

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