Where did the Earthquake Come from: Locating Epicenters

When locating an Epicenter, you must have three seismograph readings from three different cities. Determine the difference in arrival times of each p and s wave.

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Eureka, CA = _______ seconds Elko, NV = _______ seconds Las Vegas, NV = _______ seconds

Determining Distance from S-P

Use the S-P graph to the right and the estimates you made for the S-P time
intervals above to 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
 Finding the Epicenter:
Using the scale at the bottom of the
page, calibrate your compass to the
appropriate epicenter distances (km).

Place your needle on the appropriate

city and create a full circle around that
city.

Repeat the process for each city.

Where the three circles intersect, you

will find your epicenter 

Questions:
Discounting measurement errors, there
are a number of factors that could
affect the speed of earthquake waves.
List some.
 Calculating Richter Magnitude:
When calculating Richter scale magnitude,
you must find the peek height of the s
wave (as seen to the left) and plot it on the
scale to the right.
Next, plot the distance in kilometers (you
have this number from before) on the
graph at the right.
Connect the two points.
Do this for all three graphs.
Where they cross in the middle, you have
your Richter scale magnitude 

Eureka, CA Max. S Wave Amplitude= __________ Elko, NV Max. S Wave Amplitude=____________ Las Vegas, NV Max. S Wave Amplitude= ________

Questions:
What is your estimated Richter Scale Magnitude?