EARTHQUAKE EPICENTERS

USING TRIANGULATION
METHOD
Objectives:

1. Locate the epicenter of an earthquake

using the triangulation method.
2. Compute mathematically the distance
of the epicenter of an earthquake.
3. Recognize the importance of
determining the epicenter of an
earthquake.
A vibration of Earth due to the
rapid release of energy.

ea_ r _t hq _u_ak _e
The first type of seismic wave to
be recorded in a seismic station,
these compression waves are the
fastest and travel through solids,
liquids, and gases.

pr _m
i a_ _y
r w_ _v
a _e
The graphical record of
an earthquake.

o g_r _a _m
Se_ i_sm_
The second type of earthquake
wave to be recorded in a seismic
station; these shearing waves are
stronger than P-waves, but only
move through solids.

Se_c_on d_ a_r _y w _av _e

A measuring instrument for
detecting and measuring the
intensity and direction and
duration of movements of an
earthquake.
Se_ i_smO_G_ r _a _p h
 What
What is the difference
geologic activity
Compare the velocity
of
Is a body wave and a
ofassociated in the
a P and S wave.
surface wave? Which
motion of this P and S
type
waves?of wave travels in
the Earth’s interior?
A. B.

C.
A. B.

Picture B is a graphical
Do
How
What you
do think
seismic
you the
think seismic
waves
is travel
depicted
illustration of picture A. From
Waves
to
in
the the
picturepasses
surface
labels,A? of
What
what
through
the
is is the
the
the
Earth?
cause
source
entire
Of Earth?
destruction? How?
of this destruction?
ACTIVITY 2:

Find the center

Where is the epicenter of
this hypothetical
earthquake?
 Which province on the map is
closest to the earthquake
epicenter? How far in
kilometers, is this province
from epicenter?
 In which of the 3 provinces
listed in the data table
would seismograph detects
the earthquakes first?
Last?
What happens to the difference
in the arrival times between P
waves and S waves as the
distance from earthquake
increases?
5. What difficulty will you
encounter if you only have
data from two recording
station?
Read and understand the
following questions below. Select
the letter of the correct answer.
1. You were asked to locate the
epicenter of a recent
earthquake. Which correct
sequence of events should you
follow?
i. Determine the difference in the arrival time of S
and P waves recorded from each of the
seismological stations.
ii. Use the triangulation method to locate the
center.
iii. Obtain data from three different seismological
stations.
iv. Determine the distance of the epicenter from
the station.
a.) i, iii, ii, iv b.) iii, i, iv, ii c.) iii, iv, i, ii
d.) iv, ii, I, iii
2. You are provided with data showing
the arrival time of the P and S waves
recorded from seismic stations. Which
of these can you possibly determine?
a. the damage at the focus
c. the intensity of the
earthquake
b. the distance to the earthquake
3. From the seismogram, the distance
to the epicenter can be determined by
measuring
a. the arrival time surface wave
b. the difference in the arrival times of
the P and S waves.
c. the ratio of the amplitude of the
largest P and S waves.
d. the speed of the surface wave.
4. What is the distance of the
epicenter from a certain recording
station if the difference in arrival
time of P and S waves is 1 minute
in 10 seconds?
a.) 580 km b.) 875 km
c.) 900 km d.) 925 km
5. Locating earthquake
epicenter is important because
it will pinpoint
a. fault line
b. focus
c. plate boundary
d. another epicenter