Earthquakes

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phy_205l_earthquake_data_sheet_san_francisco.docx

Earthquake Activity: San Francisco Area

Complete the activity on this website. Then enter your responses directly in this document and submit it for grading.

Determining the Earthquake Epicenter

Below is a map of the region for the simulated earthquake.

Map of Northern California

Measuring the S-P interval

Use the three seismograms to estimate the S-P time interval for each of the recording stations. Record your measurement for the S-P interval below:

Eureka, CA Seismic Station S-P Interval

seconds

Elko, NV Seismic Station S-P Interval

seconds

Las Vegas, NV Seismic Station S-P Interval

seconds

Determining Distance from S-P

Using the S-P graph and the estimates you made for the S-P time intervals for the three seismograms, complete the table below. The horizontal grid is in one second intervals.

Station

S-P Interval

Epicentral Distance

Eureka, CA

seconds

KM

Elko, NV

seconds

KM

Las Vegas, NV

seconds

KM

Compute Your % Error

For each of the stations, compute your % error for the S-P Interval and Epicentral Distance. The formula for % Error is:

 

Your Data

Actual Data

% Error

Recording Station

S-P Interval

Epicentral Distance

S-P Interval

Epicentral Distance

S-P Interval

Epicentral Distance

Eureka, CA

sec

km

sec

km

Elko, NV

sec

km

sec

km

Las Vegas, NV

sec

km

sec

km

Richter Magnitude

Measure the maximum amplitude of the S-wave for each seismogram and record your estimate in the box below the seismogram. Note that although only one amplitude measurement is necessary, you should measure the amplitude for each of the three stations. This will enable you to determine the magnitude value as an average of three values, thus increasing the likelihood that you are accurate in your estimate.

Eureka, CA Maximum S Wave Amplitude

Elko, NV Maximum S Wave Amplitude

Las Vegas, NV Maximum S Wave Amplitude

Estimated Magnitude

Actual Magnitude

Earthquake Activity:

San Francisco

Area

Complete the activity on

this website

. Then enter your responses directly in this document and submit

it

for grading.

Determining

t

he Earthquake Epicenter

Below is a map of the region for the simulated earthquake.

Measuring the S

-

P interval

Use the three seismograms to estimate the S

-

P time interval for each of the recording stations. Record

your measurement for

the S

-

P interval below:

Eureka, CA Seismic Station S

-

P Interval

seconds

Elko, NV Seismic Station S

-

P Interval

seconds

Las Vegas, NV Seismic Station S

-

P Interval

seconds

Earthquake Activity: San Francisco Area

Complete the activity on this website. Then enter your responses directly in this document and submit it

for grading.

Determining the Earthquake Epicenter

Below is a map of the region for the simulated earthquake.

Measuring the S-P interval

Use the three seismograms to estimate the S-P time interval for each of the recording stations. Record

your measurement for the S-P interval below:

Eureka, CA Seismic Station S-P Interval seconds

Elko, NV Seismic Station S-P Interval seconds

Las Vegas, NV Seismic Station S-P Interval seconds