Maya Koblanski 2-4

2015.05.22
Ms. Langdon
Where Was That Earthquake
Question: How can seismograms be used to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?
Background:

Epicentre: The point on the earths surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake
Seismogram: A graph output by a seismograph/ a record of ground motion at a measuring station as a function of
time.

City of
Seismogram
Station

P Wave Arrival
(sec)

S Wave Arrival
(sec)

Difference in
Arrival Time
(sec)

Sechelt, BC
Sidney, B.C
Dawson, YK
Penticton, B.C
Edmonton, A.B

75
75
77
76
79

187
195
200
2014
260

112
120
123
128
181

Distance
Between
Epicentre and
Seismograph
Station (km)
910
950
980
1000
1415

Analysis:
a
b

Furthest: Yukon. Closet: Sechelt

About 300 Km to the South-West of Haida Gwaii

Evaluation:
c
d
e

Although I was able to find the earthquake, I could have made it more evident by being more accurate when I read the graph.
3 is the minimum; the more there are there more accurate it is
Use a more accurate measuring device (dont just have an approximate guess). Use a better quality compass. Use more
seismograph stations.

Conclusion:
This lab evidenced how seismograms can be used to locate the epicentre of an earthquake. It was found that the in the lab, the
epicentre of the earthquake was about 300km South-West of Haida Gwaii. There have been several earthquakes with epicentres around
this area, such as the 6.1 magnitude earthquake offshore of the Haida Gwaii Region with its epicentre about 280 km south west of
Prince Rupert on the morning of 24 April 13:56:16 UTC (7:00 a.m. PDT). Nevertheless, there were sources of random and systematic
error in this lab, demonstrated through how the circles on the map at the epicentre didnt perfectly cross over each other. A source of
random error could be due to the compass used; it was quite loose, so it was as likely to draw radii that were too small as they were to
be too big. Additionally, when I read the seismograph readings, the time referents were not accurate, so I was as likely to take a
measurement that was too large as I was to take on that was too small. Henceforth, there were also sources of systematic error.
Although unlikely, the referents on the ruler may have been inaccurate, leading to constantly inaccurate measurements. Additionally,
the calculator may have been faulty, or incorrect numbers were punched in. Moreover, the lab showed that a minimum of 3
seismograms are needed to determine the epicentre of an earthquake. The intersection of two planes is usually a straight line. The
intersection of that line with another plane is usually a point. The epicenter is the location on the surface of the earth which is directly
above that point. Adding more seismographs will make the determination more accurate by adding more intersection points. These can
then be averaged to give the most accurate determination. Furthermore, this lab could have been improved by using more accurate
measuring devices. All in all, this lab indicated that by finding where at least 3 seismograms overlap, you can determine the epicentre
of an earthquake; the more seismograms you have the more accurate the epicentre.