how do geologist locate the epicenter of an earthquake?
Mar 11, 2010
in
Earthquake Questions
How do geologist locate the epicenter of an earthquake?
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2 comments
charles s on March 11, 2010 at 11:21 pm
There are seismic stations located about the world and many in the US. The time it takes the seismic waves to arrive at various stations depends upon the makeup of the earth’s crust at various locations. The speed of the seismic wave varies through different types of material but by knowing when the waves arrive at different locations, and the rock characteristics involved, the seismologists can calculate, by knowing how long it took the seismic wave to arrive at their station, approximately where the epicenter of the quake was located. In some cases the seismic wave bounces off layers like echoes and this type of think is known from other quakes so that they can pin-point the location very accurately and quickly.
hannahbannah on March 11, 2010 at 11:21 pm
triangulation?