Computational Seismology

 Introduction to Study of Earthquakes

8th October 2005 08:50
The nation woke up to the destructive power of Earthquakes
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1. Margalla tower after the earthquake

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Margalla tower after the earthquake

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Balakot after the earthquake

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Estimated
40,000 to 100,000 deaths
3 times as many injured
Colossal damage

Realisation that we should understand the phenomenon of

Earthquakes, So we must Study Seismology to
to be able to predict the next big one

Prediction.. big ?

Note
Most of the deaths and injuries are not due to the earthquake itself
but due to collapsing of houses.
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Lets put things in proper perspective

Year 2005
Deaths due to earthquake 40,000 to 100,000
Deaths due to accidents 5000

Realisation that we should understand the phenomenon of

Earthquakes, So we must Study Seismology to
to be able to predict the next big one

Prediction.. big ?

Note
Most of the deaths and injuries are not due to the earthquake itself
but due to collapsing of houses.
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Lets put things in proper perspective

Average over 10 Years 1995 to 2005
Deaths due to earthquake 4,000 to 10000
Deaths due to accidents 50,000
Deaths due to negligence of female babies 20,000,000

But this does not diminish the importance of Seismology.

It tells us the state and structure of our Earth on which we live.

How do we study Seismology ?

We observe, make measurements and then make mathematical models.

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Seismology and society

1. Hazards, risks and disasters

2. Avoid hazards, ??

3. Reduce risks
(Earthquake Engineering; make earthquake resistant houses)

4. Manage disasters.
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Seismology
Study of elastic/sound waves in earth.
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The System
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Seismograph recording of an earthquake

Question, what story does this graph tell us
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Magnitude 6 Earthquake in Columbia,

recorded in 4900km away in Colorado

SIGNAL ---
>

Interpretation as rays for the seismic

signal phases
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Velocities and material Properties

 VP Velocity of P waves
 VS Velocity of S waves
 k Bulk modulus
  shear modulus
  medium density
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 The shape of the recording by Seismometer

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Seismology is an interdisciplinary
Exercise
Measurements (High Tech) (numbers) MSSP
+
Geology (history, composition of rocks->behaviour under high
temperature, pressures, etc) Shahina Tariq
+
Physics (gravity studies -> densiy distribution
Magnetism studies->Inner iron nickel core)
Zulfiqar Ahmad, Mona Lisa, Zahid Rafi,
+
Mathematics Description of Seismic waves,
Propagation in Earth -> composition
M. Ayub, Khalid Rashid
+
Astronomy (origin of earth, sun etc)
Follow up Workshop
+
Computer Science (solutions of models)
Follow up workshop
+
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Analysing seismic wave signals we work out what

the earth looks like from inside.
EARTH
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PROBING THE DEEP EARTH
SEISMOLOGY USES TRAVEL TIMES AND AMPLITUDES
OF SEISMIC WAVES TO STUDY VARIATIONS IN
SEISMIC WAVE VELOCITY & DENSITYUSES TRAVEL TIMES AND AMPLITUDES OF SEISMIC WAVES TO STUDY VARIATIONS IN
SEISMIC WAVE VELOCITY & DENSITY
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TRAVEL TIME CURVES GIVE VELOCITY AT

DEPTH

 TO DETERMINE COMPOSITION, NEED TO

KNOW WHAT MATERIALS COULD EXIST AT
THOSE DEPTHS (PRESSURES) AND
TEMPERATURES THAT WOULD HAVE
OBSERVED VELOCITIES
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 Data of Seismic Activity M > 5 earthquakes
 Next Workshop
15 rigid plates 100 km thick
 Next Workshop

 Tectonic engine => convection in the mantle

 Next workshop

Motion of the plates at

about 4 cm/year gives
a cycle time for
1500 km
~ 37.5M y
50 million years ago
650 million years ago
Earth today