The focal mechanism shown below graphically portrays the orientation of the fault plane on which the earthquake occurred and the direction of relative motion on that plane. This information was automatically calculated from the first motion directions of the compressional (P) waves. If more than one mechanism exists for this earthquake, then any of the solutions fit the first-motion data equally well.

USGS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SEISMIC NETWORK 
P FIRST-MOTION FOCAL MECHANISM 
(double-couple source assumed) 
 
Event Date & Time          : 11/24/2002 14:54:23 GMT = Sun Nov 24  6:54:23 PST 2002

Location                   : 37.7602 N, 121.9502 W 
                           : (37 deg. 45.61 min. N, 121.deg. 57.01 min. W) 
Depth                      : 11.2 km. deep (  7.0 miles) 
Magnitude                  : 3.8 MC 
# P First motions          : 127 
Strike uncertainty         :   3 deg. 
Dip    uncertainty         :  28 deg. 
Rake   uncertainty         :  10 deg.