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Joanne Lai
ENGL 199 Section A12
Dr. W. DeFehr
25 September 2016
Seismometer: Beyond a Single Instrument
In the modern world, one may think that the Western countries master the most
advanced technology and powerful device because their contributions and inventions are
often highlighted by the global media. However, one might be surprised that the first
seismograph in the world was invented in China at 132 A.D. by a Chinese astronomer and
mathematician called Zhang Heng. The great astronomer named his device as the earthquake
weathercock. Based on the modern replica of his masterpiece, one can see that the wellknown seismometer resembles a wine jar in six feet diameter, having eight dragons faced
down and positioned along outside of the barrel. These eight directions represent the primary
compass directions. Beneath the dragons, there are eight bronze toads with their broad
mouths gaping to receive the small bronze balls from each dragons mouth. When the device
senses an incoming seismic waves, one of balls from the dragon would drop and the sound
alerts the observer to the earthquake, giving the rough estimation of the seismic wave
direction. Unfortunately, for some sort, inside of the seismometer must have been filled with
a sensing mechanism which had been lost in time. However, it is believed that the sensing
mechanism works about the same way as the one that we have now, which consists a
pendulum or spring system. Seismometer is the most recommended and reliable device to
detect earthquakes and monitor the motion of ground in the field of seismology due to its
function as a high sensitivity electromechanical device, the latest technology developed since
the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), and the wide yet mature seismographic network
around the world.

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Seismometer is a high accuracy and sensitive electromechanical device. A
seismometer is actually a part of the seismograph. The seismograph measures the movement
of the earth and it consists of a ground-motion detection sensor which called the seismometer.
The fundamental working principle behind the seismometer is due to its high sensitivity to
the up-downs motion of the earth. By visualizing it with a spring system with suspended
weight which oscillates along the earths motion, as the earth moves, the relative motion
between the weight and the earth provides a measure of vertical ground motion. The
seismologist then installs the recording system and attaches it to the frame that holds the
spring-weight system. For example, a rotating drum will be attached to the frame, and a pen
will be attached to the weight. The motion is then recorded from the relative motion between
the weight and earth. The recorded history of the ground motion is called a seismogram. In
addition, Dr. Willis once stated his view on earthquakes news as overspiced and the news
served up [to the public] as a kind of side dish (Willis 1-3). This phenomenon demonstrates
that the public lacks of knowledge in dealing with the earthquakes as a natural occurrence. As
a result of misconception received from the media, people often think that the seismometer
can predict earthquakes. However, this is, unfortunately, not true. Seismometer is a device
just to observe ground activities, and sense seismic wave because of its function as highly
sensitive to ground movements. It can detect the movement at very quiet sites as small as
1/10,000,000 centimeters. For instance, the high 9.1 magnitude Sumatra-Andaman Islands
earthquake happened in 2004 had created such a high ground motion over the entire earth
which was several centimeters high. Hence, seismometer is sensitive and it is reliable to be
used to detect motion of the earth due to its electromechanical system operated by principle
of inertia.
From the old ancient seismograph by Zhang Heng to the spring-weight system
modern seismometer, and from the drum recording system to the magnetic tape recorder, the

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continuous development and transformation of a modern seismometer has made itself to be
more stable and thus provide a more accurate result on various studies other than earthquake
seismology. Essentially, the seismic measurements and researches on the ocean bottom had
begun even before 1961. The pioneer work was reported by Ewing and Vin in 1938, but their
instruments were interrupted by World War II. After the war, they resumed their seismic
recording work as they were interested in monitoring small earthquakes and nuclear
explosion. In 1961, the data on the ocean-bottom seismic background was meager, and
information on signal-to-noise ratio was nonexistent (Bradner 208). Their view was the ocean
might provide a very quiet environment for monitoring the signals but on the other hand the
ocean basins might be noisier than the land. Besides, the use of arrays for earthquake
seismology which consists of several systems is now operated by the U.K. and U.S.A. for
research connected with underground nuclear explosion detection (Whiteway 328). The
innovation and advancement have significantly improved the difficulties and incapability in
previous technology compared to the 1960s.The research is applicable to the earthquake
seismology studies. The first system consists of a single, close-spaced cluster of geophones. It
can provide signal/noise ratio enhancement without using extra aid of analysis equipment.
The second system contains three clusters of geophones in a triangular configuration and
provides information about signal velocity and azimuth from the relative onset times.
Triggered recorders are used to minimize the transcription and analysis time. The third
system has the maximum scientific capability but requires a complex analysis facility. Since
the conventional earthquake observatory records a single seismometer or beats between
interfering seismic phases, it may lead to phase identification. However, the arrays of short
period seismometers enable the apparent surface velocities of the seismic phases of interest to
be determined. The unwanted signals and high velocity noise can also be discriminated. Thus,

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it is proven that the seismometer usage has been broaden and used in different fields from
time to time as a result of improvement done by various experts.
Furthermore, the global seismographic network is a permanent digital network
serving as a multi-use scientific facility and resource for monitoring and research. The
partners that involved in this huge network are such as Incorporated Research Institutions for
Seismology (IRIS), National Science Foundation (NSF), University of California San Diego,
IDA and more. The seismometer related research and studies are essentially reliable because
of its strong foundation established by the seismological laboratory. For instance, the
Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory(ASL) located by the U.S Coast & Geodetic Survey
(C&GS) provide a seismically quite place for developing and testing new and improved
seismological instruments (Gee and Leith 1). Over the years, the experts conduct studies in
numerous field experiments for earthquakes and explosion studies, leading the development
some seismic systems. The tasks included monitoring the networks in Alaska and the Pacific.
The ASL today also supports the operations and maintenance of more than 180 stations
around 60 countries (Gee and Leith 4). It serves as the backbone of the Advanced National
Seismic System to ensure the quality and integrity of the data. The data are then being used
by the Tsunami Warning Center and National Earthquake Information Center. Hence, a series
of wide and mature seismographic network covered around the globe serves as the
fundamental base for the continuous seismological instrument development and make it to be
extremely reliable for the seismologists to use.
All that said, seismometer will be the most reliable and high sensitive
electromechanical device because of its ability to produce accurate results based on the
continuous technology advancements performed by the experts from the mature
seismographic network around the world. In the long run, the experts are looking forward to

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the ability and technology to predict a future earthquake based on the scientific data
generated from the seismographic network.

Works Cited
Bradner, Hugh. "Seismic Measurements on the Ocean Bottom." Jstor. American Association
for the Advancement of Science, 9 Oct. 1964. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/1713811>.
Gee, L.S., and Leith, W.S., "The Global Seismographic Network: U.S. Geological Survey
Fact Sheet." U.S Department of the Interior. N.d. 27 Sept. 2016.
< http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3021/>
Whiteway, F.E. "The Use of Arrays for Earthquake Seismology." Jstor. Royal Society of
London, 1 Mar. 1966. Web. 27 Sept. 2016. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2415675>
Willis, Bailcy. "How Does Privatization Work?" (1997): n. pag. Society for Science & the
Public, 6 Feb. 1926. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
<https://www.iris.edu/hq/files/publications/brochures_onepagers/doc/OnePager7.pdf>.

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Bradner, Hugh. "Seismic Measurements on the Ocean Bottom." Jstor. American Association
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<http://www.jstor.org/stable/1713811>.
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Whiteway, F.E. "The Use of Arrays for Earthquake Seismology." Jstor. Royal Society of
London, 1 Mar. 1966. Web. 27 Sept. 2016. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2415675>
Willis, Bailcy. "How Does Privatization Work?" (1997): n. pag. Society for Science & the
Public, 6 Feb. 1926. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
<https://www.iris.edu/hq/files/publications/brochures_onepagers/doc/OnePager7.pdf>.

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"Zhang Heng and the Seismograph." Zhang Heng and the Seismograph. N.p., n.d. Web. 27
Sept. 2016. <http://people.chinesecio.com/en/article/2009-11/04/content_81237.htm>.