Epicenter: Determine Location Of An Earthquake - IRIS

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Epicenter: Determine Location of an Earthquake

4min 16s Novice

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How can you determine the epicenter of an earthquake?

The arrival times of P and S waves are used to determine the distance to an earthquake using standard travel-time curves. P & S waves each shake the ground in different ways as they travel through the Earth. P waves are faster than S waves so by looking at seismograms, scientists can accurately locate the epicenter as well as the hypocenter, or focus of the earthquake at depth. (Recorded during a 2007 teacher workshop on earthquakes and tectonics. Speaker is Dr. Robert Butler, University of Portland Oregon)

Keypoints:

• There is a predictable distance between the arrival of a P wave and the slower S wave
• Using the arrival times of the P and S waves from 3 different stations distances to epicenter can be determined.
• The intersection of the 3 cirles gives epicenter location.

Related Videos

Travel Time Curves Described Video Novice Epicenter and Focus (hypocenter) of an Earthquake Video Novice

Related Animations

3-Component Seismogram Records Seismic-wave Motion

We use exaggerated motion of a building (seismic station) to show how the ground moves during an earthquake, and why it is important to measure seismic waves using 3 components: vertical, N-S, and E-W. Before showing an actual distant earthquake, we break down the three axes of movement to clarify the 3 seismograms.

Animation Novice Travel-time Curves: How they are created

A travel time curve is a graph of the time that it takes for seismic waves to travel from the epicenter of an earthquake to the hundreds of seismograph stations around the world. The arrival times of P, S, and surface waves are shown to be predictable. This animates an IRIS poster linked with the animation.

Animation Novice Take 2: Epicenter vs. Hypocenter (Yep, there is a difference)

The epicenter is the map location on Earth’s surface, above where earthquake began. An earthquake actually begins inside the earth at the hypocenter. Learn more!

Animation Novice

Related Lessons

Locating an Earthquake with Seismic Data

To understand plate tectonic processes and hazards, and to better understand where future earthquakes are likely to occur, it is important to locate earthquakes as they occur. In this activity students use three-component seismic data from recent earthquakes to locate a global earthquake.

Lesson Novice

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Contact us EarthScope Consortium operates the NSF Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (GAGE) and NSF Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE). Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.