CEPE2S – 4B

SALIPSIP, KEN MARCO C.

Locating the Epicenter using the Philippine Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS)

An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 occurred in Luzon. People were interviewed and observations were
shared and summarized in the Table.
No. Site Description of experiences and observations PEIS
Value
1 Guimba Books fell from the shelves and some windows broken in the school library. V
2 Mabalacat Many people at the supermarket and school children were scared and run VI
outside.
3 Malasiqui Dishes in the kitchen rattled. Shaking felt by the waiter inside the restaurant. IV
4 Bayambang Canned goods and bottles displayed in the grocery fell from the shelves. V
5 Science City Windows and doors of the barangay center rattled. Prisoners inside the precinct IV
of Munoz were awakened.
6 Camiling An ancestral house of stone suffered minor damage. The piano inside moved by VI
an inch.
7 Asingan Residents at the 8th floor condominium felt the vibration. Pedestrians were not III
disturbed during the shaking.
8 Gapan The leaves of the coconut trees swayed and some coconuts fell. V
9 Bamban An old church was considerably damage. Some drivers noticed their cars moving VII
sideways. Some small cracks observed at the new municipal building.
10 Rosales The chandeliers of the church were notice to be swaying. The water inside the IV
pond oscillated strongly.
11 San Jose Some pedestrians find it difficult to stand. The church bells rang during the VI
shaking.
12 Moncada Felt by almost everyone inside and outside the mall. V
13 Zaragoza Trees on hills were observed to have swayed. Some rocks fell from the hill. VI
14 Bugallon Some people were awakened during the shaking due to the creaking sound of IV
their wooden floors.

1. Read the Philippine Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) so you become familiar with the descriptions.
2. Read the list of experiences from the various sites in the table. Copy the given table and assign a PEIS
value to each of the descriptions in the Table.
3. Write the PEIS value in the map beside the site.
4. Draw isoseismal lines using a colored pen connecting sites having the same PEIS value. Use different
color for different PEIS.
5. Estimate the approximate location of the epicenter of the earthquake.
6. Answer the following questions:
a. Approximately, where is the epicenter? What cities were closest to the epicenter? How did you
determine this?
By determining the earthquake's intensity based on location and plotting the isoseismal lines on the
provided map, it is clear that the epicenter of the earthquake was in Bamban, Tarlac. Tarlac City was the
closest city to be affected by the earthquake.
b. Approximately how wide is the zone of rating intensity V and higher?
By locating the earthquake's epicenter in the heart of San Jose, Tarlac. The zone with the greatest width will
be at Gapan, approximately 70 kilometers away, and the zone with the smallest width will be at Bamban,
approximately 30 kilometers away.
c. What are the possible sources of error in estimating the location of the epicenter using
intensity scale?
The intensity scale's reliance on the opinions of those who felt the earthquake could lead to inaccuracies
when determining the epicenter of an earthquake. People who submit the scale's data may overstate or
understate how an earthquake actually feels. Due to their proximity to the event, they could also overlook
minor facts that could have an impact on the estimated earthquake intensity and, consequently, its
approximate epicenter.
d. Can we use an intensity scale to compare the magnitude of two earthquakes?
Yes, to a certain extent, we may contrast the magnitudes of two distinct earthquakes. By classifying them
under a single intensity scale provided by PHIVOLCS, we may compare them. Some experiences, however,
may be exaggerated and appear stronger than what they actually are because we are simply basing it on
the subjective feelings or observations of people. With a grain of salt, we can compare two distinct
earthquakes. Although they are not quantitative, intensity scales can help us visualize how something felt.
e. Does the use of intensity scale always give correct location of the epicenter? Explain if yes or
no.
 The epicenter of an earthquake can be roughly estimated using intensity measures. The position, however,
might or might not be as precise as desired depending on the quality of the data a researcher, scientist, or
observer gathers. Since intensity scales are primarily based on a person's observation of the phenomenon,
the information he or she offers may overestimate or underestimate the earthquake's true intensity.
Intensity scales can, at most, only approximate where an earthquake's epicenter is located. Therefore,
intensity scales may not always provide accurate epicenter locations.

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