Trying to retrieve focal mechanism - USGS API - IndexError: list index out of range

1

Hello,

I am trying to retrieve focal mechanism for the M 7.5 earthquake (42 km NE of Anamizu, Japan) occured on the 2024-01-01 07:10:09 (UTC)

webpage: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000m0xl/moment-tensor.

from obspy import read_events
event_param = read_events("https://earthquake.usgs.gov/fdsnws/event/1/query?eventid=us6000m0xl&format=quakeml&includeallorigins=True")
focmec=event_param[0].focal_mechanisms[0]

However, it is blank.

event_param[0].focal_mechanisms
Out[26]: []

I was expected to get the values as the moment-tensor webpage for this event is available.

Do you have any idea?

Regards,
Coralie

2

Hmm… weird indeed. I would contact USGS support, there’s an email link at the bottom of this page: API Documentation - Earthquake Catalog

Btw… you can also query events by ID through the client, and also see all the available additional options (they have a lot)

from obspy.clients.fdsn import Client
client = Client("USGS")
client.help()
client.get_events(eventid="us6000m0xl")