Seismograph stations located throughout the world record these waves on seismograms.

In this exercise we will examine how seismograms are used to National Institute of Geological Sciences occurrence and location of an earthquake. of Geology determine the time of Laboratory in Principles Examining Seismograms

Exercise 8

The three basic types of waves produced by earthquakes are: P waves, S Earthquakes waves, and Surface waves. P waves travel most rapidly, therefore, they ANSWER SHEET: EMAIL TO INSTRUCTOR WITH SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKES (YOUR reach the seismograph station first. Examine Diagram 1, which is a SECTION) typical seismogram. The dots on this seismogram mark time intervals of NAME _________________________________ oneSECTION_______________________________ minute. Answer the continually undergoingquestions by referring to Diagram million times each The earth is following two change due to stresses that exist within. At least a 1. year the earth suddenly fractures and the of an earthquake 1. How many minutes elapsed seismic wavesworld arrival ofwaves in all directions from between the record these radiate first p-waveIn the on seismograms. and the focus. Seismograph stations located throughout the this arrival will examine how seismograms theexercise weof the first S-wave? are used to determine the time of occurrence and
location of an earthquake. EXAMINING SEISMOGRAMS. The three basic types of waves produced by earthquakes are: P waves, S waves, and Surface waves. P waves travel most rapidly, therefore, they reach the seismograph station first. Examine Diagram 1, which is a typical seismogram. The dots on this seismogram mark time intervals of one minute. EARTHQUAKE RECORDS

_________________________

2. How many minutes elapsed between the arrival of he first S-wave and the Answer the following two questions by referring to Diagram 1. first surface wave?
1. How many minutes elapsed between the arrival of the first p-wave and the arrival of the first S-wave? _________________________

__________________________

2. How many minutes elapsed between the arrival of he first S-wave and the first surface wave?

Locating An
LOCATING AN EARTHQUAKE. The difference in the velocities of the P and S waves provides a method for determining the distance to the location of the earthquake or epicenter. The principle used is analogous to a race between two autos, one faster than the other. The greater the distance of the race,

Copyright 2003 National Institute of Geological Sciences. All rights reserved.

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Laboratory in Principles of Geology

the greater will be the difference in the arrival times at the finish line. 1. From the seismogram in Diagram 1, you should have determined that the arrival times of the first P and S waves differed by 4 minutes. Using the travel-time graph, determine the distance to the epicenter in this instance. This is done by finding the place on the graph where the vertical separation between the P and S lines is equal to 4 minutes (one square on the graph is one minute). Draw a vertical line at this location extending to the bottom of the graph. Label the line Bloomington. The distance to the earthquake in degrees can be read directly below your line. Answer = _____________ degrees (Have your answer checked before you continue.) 2. Using your answer from number 1 above, calculate how many kilometers to the earthquake epicenter. (One degree = 111 km or 69 Miles) ___________________km _______________________miles 3. The time travel graph can also be used to determine the time required for seismic waves to reach a seismograph station. Note on the time-travel graph that time is given on the vertical axis. Thus, for the example you did above, the first P-wave required 5 minutes and 15 seconds to reach the seismograph. This is determined by finding the place where the Bloomington line crossed the P-wave curve, and reading this value from the vertical axis. How many minutes were required for the first S-wave to reach the seismic station? __________________________ minutes 4. In question#2 you determined the distance from an earthquake to a seismograph station. However, all we know is that the earthquake occurred somewhere along a circle, a given number of kilometers away. Records from three different seismograph stations are needed to more accurately locate an earthquake. In the following exercises you will interpret three seismograms in order to determine the location of an earthquake. a. On Diagram3, label the arrival of the first P-wave and the first S- wave on each seismogram. b. In each case, how much time elapsed between the arrival of the first P-wave and the first S-wave? (Determine to the nearest 12 minute.) 1.) Nagpur _______________ minutes 2.) Darwin _______________ minutes 3.) Paris_______________ minutes c. Using the time-travel graph determine the distance to the epicenter from each seismograph station. Draw a line on the graph representing each situation and label each line with the citys name. DISTANCE 1.) Nagpur _________ degrees _________km __________miles 2.) Darwin_________ degrees _________km __________miles 3.) Paris_________ degrees _________km __________miles d. Using the world map provided, determine the location of the earthquake epicenter. Do this by drawing
Copyright 2003 National Institute of Geological Sciences. All rights reserved.

National Institute of Geological Sciences

Laboratory in Principles of Geology

three circles (one from each seismic station) using the distances from part c. Use the scale on the side of the map and a drawing compass to make your circles. In what country was the earthquake located? ___________________ What is the approximate latitude and longitude of the earthquake epicenter? 5. Next we will determine the time of origin of this earthquake. Each seismogram has a time designated on it. (9:43 GMT means 9 hours, 43 minutes, Greenwich Mean Time.) a. For Nagpur, India, note the time of the arrival of the first P-wave. _________________________ b. Using the time-travel graph, determine the time required for the first P-wave to travel from the epicenter to the seismograph. _________________________ c. Determine the time of the occurrence of the earthquake by taking the arrival time of the first P-wave minus the time required for the wave to reach the recording instrument. _________________________ 6. Using the data for Darwin, determine the time of origin of the earthquake. a. For Darwin, note the time of arrival of the first P-wave. _________________________ b. Using the time-travel graph, determine the time required for the first P-wave to travel from the epicenter to the seismograph. _________________________ c. Determine the time of the occurrence of the earthquake by taking the arrival time of the first P-wave minus the time required fort he wave to reach the recording instrument. _________________________ d. Does the time of the occurrence of the earthquake determined for Darwin agree with that determined for Nagpur? YES NO (circle one)

e. Should they agree? YES NO (circle one)

Copyright 2003 National Institute of Geological Sciences. All rights reserved.

National Institute of Geological Sciences

Laboratory in Principles of Geology

Diagram 2 Time-Distance Graph

Copyright 2003 National Institute of Geological Sciences. All rights reserved.

Earthquakes-page 8

National Institute of Geological Sciences

Laboratory in Principles of Geology

Earthquakes-page 8

Copyright 2003 National Institute of Geological Sciences. All rights reserved.

National Institute of Geological Sciences

Laboratory in Principles of Geology

Diagram 4 Map of the World

Earthquakes-page 10

Copyright 2003 National Institute of Geological Sciences. All rights reserved.