Epicenter and Magnitude of the Earthquake - Assignment Example

Epicenter and Magnitude of the EarthquakeSeismic waves refer to waves of an earthquake. These waves come about as the energy released decapitated by an earthquake moves from one point within the earth to another. P-waves and s-waves are important in measuring the Richter magnitude. The seismograph refers to an instrument used to record the seismic waves of the earthquake. The recording from seismograph is a seismogram. Focus is point that an earthquake originates and epicenter is the point of the surface of the earth perpendicularly above the focus.

Richter magnitude is the quantity of energy released when an earthquake occurs. To locate the epicenter of the earthquake, the seismologists examine seismograms from three seismic stations. The seismologists measure the time interval of S-waves and P-waves in about 45 seconds and place the vertical lines at an interval of about 2 seconds. The measured S-P time interval will help to determine waves' distance of travel from the focus to the station. It is paramount to note that the actual location of the epicenter is on the circle's perimeter to be drawn around the station.

Therefore, to triangulate this position, there must be three seismic stations. A circle with an appropriate radius is drawn around every station and where the three circles intersect is the epicenter of the earthquake. The seismologists use a well-known Richter scale to measure an earthquake's magnitude. To determine the earthquake’s Richter magnitude, seismologists require one to know the surface the wave’s amplitude and the distance to the origin of the earthquake at the seismic recording site or location.

The distance of the seismic recording and footage station from the epicenter can be determined by getting the time difference of the arrival of the P-waves and S-waves at the station. The difference is called S-P interval. The amplitude of the surface wave depends on the earthquake's magnitude and the distance between the epicenter and recording station. It is a measure of how many millimeters the ground will move at the recording station. The amplitude and S-P interval are then used to determine the Richter magnitude.

Also, the record of the seismograph may be used to plot a graph that gives a visual estimate for the magnitude (Muller, R.2010).ReferenceMuller, R. (2010). Physics and technology for future presidents: An introduction to the essential physics every world leader needs to know. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.