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What is an Epicenter?

What is an Epicenter?. A point on Earth’s surface where EQ originates. Focus: A point of an EQ within the Earth. Always need three stations in order to find an epicenter. P - Waves. P rimary wave- travels p hastest so it arrives at seismic stations p hirst. Compressional wave

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What is an Epicenter?

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  1. What is an Epicenter? • A point on Earth’s surface where EQ originates. Focus: A point of an EQ within the Earth.

  2. Always need three stations in order to find an epicenter

  3. P - Waves • Primary wave- travels phastest so it arrives at seismic stations phirst. • Compressional wave • Pass through solids and liquids (magma).

  4. S - Waves • Secondary wave- arrives at a seismic station second. • Vibrates side-to-side. • Solids wave- only travels through solids. • Shear wave

  5. Notice the vertical axis This represents TIME (in minutes!) Let’s enlarge a small section

  6. Between each minute, we notice that there are 3 segments. If there are 60 seconds in a minute, each one of these segments must be ________seconds. 20

  7. What would this time be? 2 minutes, 20 seconds

  8. Notice the horizontal axis This represents DISTANCE (in thousands of Kilometers!) Let’s enlarge a small section

  9. 1,000km 2,000km 1,200km 1,800km So what would this distance be? 1,400km 1,600km Fill these in... 5,400km

  10. There are also two curves on this chart that display the way different earthquake waves behave.

  11. S-Wave P-Wave

  12. This chart can be used for answering many different questions! Let's try a few examples How long does it take an S-Wave to travel 5,000km? Go to the chart!

  13. Another example... The recording station tells us it took 6 minutes and 20 seconds for the P-Wave to reach them. How far away from the epicenter of the earthquake must they be? Go to the chart!

  14. 3,600km

  15. Use the data from the recording stations: • Station A: San Francisco, California P-Wave arrival 3:02:20 S-Wave arrival 3:06:30 What is the time difference between P and S wave arrivals? 4:10

  16. TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER, AND MARK OFF THE DIFFERENCE IN ARRIVAL TIME 4:10 2800Km

  17. Use the data from the recording stations: • Station B: Denver, Colorado P-Wave arrival 3:01:40 S-Wave arrival 3:04:10 What is the time difference between P and S wave arrivals? 2:30

  18. TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER, AND MARK OFF THE DIFFERENCE IN ARRIVAL TIME 2:30 2:30 2:30 2:30 1600Km

  19. Use the data from the recording stations: • Station C: Missoula, Montana P-Wave arrival 3:01:20 S-Wave arrival 3:03:00 What is the time difference between P and S wave arrivals? 1:40

  20. 1:40 2:30 TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER, AND MARK OFF THE DIFFERENCE IN ARRIVAL TIME 2:30 2:30 1000Km

  21. Recording BoardDifference in arrival times: San Francisco: 4:10 2,800km Slide your compass to the EXACT distance on the scale. 3,000 2,000 4,000 5,000 1,000

  22. Use your carefully set compass to draw a circle around each seismic station. . . . You've found a possible epicenter! Does this seem like a likely location for an earthquake to occur?

  23. Compare your answer to the historical record

  24. Need a closer view to be sure? Go to http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/states.php and retrieve the seismicity map (like the one on the left) for the state containing your possible solution. Based on this map, earthquakes have previously occurred in the region where our epicenter fell. Thus our answer seems likely USGS

  25. What if our epicenter had fallen here instead? Does this mean our solution is wrong or less likely? What could help us find out?

  26. Credits: This file was originally created by Robert M. DeMarco of Marlboro Central High SchoolEdits have been added by: Chris Visco - Sachem High School Eric Cohen- Westhampton Beach High School Michael Hubenthal - IRIS Consortium

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