Abstract
Based on the relationship between body wave magnitued m b and seismic moment M 0 presented by Pei-Shan CHEN (1981), by using the moment tensor and focal mechanism solution in the earthquake reports of EDR, a global shear stress pattern including shear stress values and directions of P and T principal axis was obatained. The distribution of ambient shear stress values in the globe is: the highest in intraplate followed by subduction zone, and the lowest in oceanic ridge. The horizontal directions of the maximum principal stresses we got are coincident very well with the result of Zoback (1989). The detail analysis of the stress state in Tonga region shows that: The subduction slab bends down in shallow by press and bends up in deep because of the resistance from deeper part. Between them, the slab is in an equilibrum state. After analysizing the global stress distribution, we got the result that: the plate is driven by a drag force from under its bottom, the plate motion results in its extensional state in oceanic ridge and compressive state in subduction zone.
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