EARTHQUAKE RECORDS AND

MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
 Earthquake instruments
are used to DETECT unusual
ground shaking/tremor ,
MEASURE earthquake’s
magnitude and intensity, and
RECORD data for future
references .
 SEISMOMETER
Seismometers are instruments that measure
motions of the ground, including those of seismic
waves generated by EARTHQUAKES,  volcanic
eruptions, and other seismic sources. Records of
seismic waves allow seismologists to map the
interior of the Earth, and locate and measure the
size of these different sources. word derives from
the Greek , seismós, a shaking or quake,
and metron, measure
 SEISMOGRAPHS
 Special instruments known as seismometers or seismographs can measure ground
movements during an earthquake.
 They can measure the epicenters, focal depths, and magnitudes, and are used to
measure and record seismic trains.
 The ground movements are graphically recorded in a seismogram.
 By an analysis of seismograms, it is possible to determine the velocity of propagation
of the various types of seismic waves for each particular earthquake, and a systematic
study of such records has made possible a fairly exact analysis of the physical
characteristics of the earth.
 Seismographs also make it possible to locate the focus of the earthquake by
determining the difference between the times of arrival of the seismic waves at
different seismological stations.
 
 SEISMOGRAPHS
 Seismographs were first
installed at the
University of California,
Berkeley, in 1887. At
present, many types of
seismographs are
currently available, and
most incorporate similar
principles.
 SEISMOGRAPHS
 Unless otherwise
indicated, the following
descriptions summarizes a
typical seismograph:

1. Use is made of a pendulum

(free mass) attached to a
rigid frame, which in a
permanent seismological
station is anchored to a
concrete platform.
 SEISMOGRAPHS
1. When the ground vibrates
during an earthquake, the
pendulum’s inertia tends
to delay its motion. This
results in a measure of
differential motion. A
seismometer pendulum
can be designed to have a
high or low period
sensitivity.
 SEISMOGRAPHS
1. Many seismograph
pendulums take 10 or even
20 seconds to make a
complete swing. The reason
for this is that most waves
from distant earthquakes
have long periods and long
wavelengths. It requires a
long period pendulum to
obtain a measurable distance
between the moving
pendulum and the moving
ground.
 SEISMOGRAPHS
2. 2. Seismological stations
often house six seismometers
for obtaining a complete
description of ground
motion.
 Short-period (wave periods in the 0.05- to
0.20-second range), north-south (N) motion.
      Short-period, east-west (E) motion.
     Short-period, vertical (Z) motion.
     Long-period (wave periods in the 15-
to 100-second range), N motion.
      Long-period, E motion.
      Long-period, Z motion.
 SEISMOGRAPHS
3. A braking device to prevent
its own free-period swinging
and to show the arrival
separation of various wave
phases must damp the
pendulum. Free—period
swaying can be especially
pronounced for long-period
seismometers if not properly
damped. A pendulum
damped to best reflect
ground motion is termed
critical.
 SEISMOGRAPHS
4. The motion of a
seismograph pendulum
must be magnified
relative to the ground
motion, allowing very
small wave amplitudes as
small as 10-10 centimeters.
5. Magnification is
accomplished by
mechanical, optical, or
electromagnetic
procedures.
 TRIAXIAL SEISMOGRAPHS
 A simple pendulum seismograph can record three directions of
ground motion. If three instruments are arrayed at right angles to
each other (horizontal vectors do not have north-south, east-west)
the system is called a triaxial seismograph.
 TRIAXIAL SEISMOGRAPHS
 Three additional items require emphasis:

1.   Seismograph traces do not show the actual amount of ground

displacement. This must be computed, and thus, it is important to
know the operational parameters of a particular seismograph.

2.      A seismograph’s timing controls must be maintained to a fraction

of a second accuracy, allowing the arrival times of various wave
phases to be accurately assigned.
 TRIAXIAL SEISMOGRAPHS
3. Wind, ocean waves, changes in atmospheric pressure, storms, changes in
ground levelness, and cultural noise, especially vehicular traffic vibrations
disturb seismographs. This can be a continuous nuisance and explains why
seismological stations are situated in quiet areas whenever possible. These areas
are called as vaults. Seismic background noises recorded on seismograms are
termed microseisms. The most prominent microseisms have wave periods
ranging from 4 – 7 seconds.
 ACCELEROGRAPHS
 Since the vibratory motion of
the ground is manifested in
structures in the form of
inertial forces directly related
to the acceleration of the
ground, scientists have
designed instruments called
“strong-motion seismographs”
which make it possible to
record in a graph called an
accelerogram the motions of
the ground during an
earthquake.
 ACCELEROGRAPHS
 Unlike seismographs, these
instruments do not operate
continuously but have a special
actuator that turns them on
when the acceleration of the
ground exceeds a certain
threshold, so that they can
record the most important
portion for the accelerogram.
Accelerographs do not run
continuously but is activated
only by strong earth motions.
 
 ACCELEROGRAPHS
 Accelerographs are placed in buildings at various heights and on
different ground types. The instruments are powered by solar
cells.
 Accelerograms provide important data on the responses of
different structures and geologic units to near-field strong
earthquake motions Through mathematical integration
procedures, acceleration curves can be processed to produce
ground velocity (first integration) and ground displacement
(second integration) curves. Such data are extremely valuable in
earthquake engineering and hazard reduction programs.
ACCELEROGRAMS
 SEISMOSCOPES
The Chinese philosopher Chang
Hêng [Chang Hêng is also referred
to as Choko and Tyoko,
modifications of the Japanese form
of his name.] invented the earliest
known seismoscope in 132 A.D.
The instrument was said to
resemble a wine jar of diameter six
feet. On the outside of the vessel
there were eight dragonheads,
facing the eight principal directions
of the compass.
 SEISMOSCOPES
Below each of the dragonheads was a
toad, with its mouth opened toward the
dragon. The mouth of each dragon held
a ball. At the occurrence of an
earthquake, one of the eight dragon-
mouths would release a ball into the
open mouth of the toad situated below.
The direction of the shaking
determined which of the dragons
released its ball. The instrument is
reported to have detected a four-
hundred-mile distant earthquake that
was not felt at the location of the
seismoscope.
 SEISMOSCOPES
The inside of the Chinese
seismoscope is unknown.
Seismologists of the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries have speculated
on mechanisms that would duplicate
the behavior of Chang Hêng's
seismoscope, but would not be
beyond the Chinese technology of
Chang Hêng's time. All assume the
use of some kind of pendulum as the
primary sensing element, the motion
of which would activate one of the
dragons.
 SEISMOSCOPES
 Seismoscopes complement
accelerographs for obtaining strong-
motion data near epicenters.
 These are magnetically damped
conical pendulum devices that are
free to move in any horizontal
direction. Unlike seismographs, they
have no timing capability. A metal
stylus writes a record of ground
motions, via angular deflections of
the pendulum on a smoked glass
plate.
 CREEPMETERS
 A creepmeter measures fault slip by recording the
displacement between 2 piers or monuments located on opposite
sides of the fault. Typically, an invar wire is anchored to one
pier and is stretched across the fault. Its displacement relative
to the second pier is measured electronically and checked
periodically with a mechanical measurement. Using the angle of
the wire from the strike of the fault, the change in distance
between the two piers is directly proportionally to fault slip.
MAGNETOMETERS
Magnetometers measure changes in local
magnetic fields resulting from a combination of
mean crustal stress change, fluid flow associated with
earthquakes, fault slip, and a number of processes
related to volcanic activity. To isolate these local
magnetic fields, the magnetic data must be corrected
for normal geomagnetic field variations, magnetic
storms and other disturbances including those
generated by cultural activity. Ultra-precise, absolute
instruments with a precision of 0.2 nanotesla are used.
 PORE PRESSURE MONITORS

Pore Pressure Monitor is an instrument record fluid

pressure changes in deep boreholes that may be driven
by fault activity. Measurements can be made to better
than 0.1 millibar
 STRAINMETERS
Strainmeters for continuous crustal strain
monitoring are highly sensitive instruments with
precision of less than 1 part per billion (i.e. less
than 1 inch in 16,000 miles). They are usually
installed in boreholes where surface noise is
greatly reduced. These instruments monitor the
change in crustal strain near active faults and
volcanoes associated with fault slip, earthquakes,
and volcanic activity
 TILTMETERS
Tiltmeters are highly sensitive instruments
used to measure ground tilt (rotation) near faults
and volcanoes caused by fault slip and volcanic
uplift. The precision to which tilt can be measured
is less than 1 part per billion (i.e. less than 1 inch in
16,000 miles). For crustal monitoring applications,
these instruments are mostly installed in boreholes
to avoid spurious ground tilts produced by
differential thermal expansion in near-surface
materials, rainfall and pumping effects.
 HYDROPHONE
A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used
underwater for recording or listening to underwater
sound. Most hydrophones are based on
a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when
subjected to a pressure change. Such piezoelectric
materials, or transducers can convert a sound signal into
an electrical signal since sound is a pressure wave. Some
transducers can also serve as a projector, but not all have
this capability, and may be destroyed if used in such a
manner.
 ACCELEROGRAPH
An accelerograph can be referred to as a strong
motion seismograph, or simply an
earthquake accelerometer. They are usually constructed as
a self-contained box, more commonly now being connected
directly to the Internet.
Accelerographs are useful for when the earthquake
ground motion is so strong that it causes the more
sensitive seismometers to go off-scale. There is an entire
science of strong ground motion, that is dedicated to
placing accelerographs in the vicinity of major faults. The
type of information gathered (such as rupture velocity)
would not be possible with the standard seismometers.
 EARTHQUAKE NETWORKS
 Obtaining systematic earthquake data from different stations is a
prime requisite for various types of seismological research and
for surveillance activity programs. To accomplish this, identical
instruments or instruments from which the data can be reduced to
standard formats must be used. When this is accomplished, the
resulting seismograph array is often called as a network. Seismic
networks can be worldwide, regional, or local, and permanent or
temporary.
 GLOBAL SEISMOGRAPHIC
NETWORK

The Global Seismographic Network (GSN) is a 150+

station, globally distributed, state-of-the-art digital seismic
network providing free, realtime, open access data through
the IRIS DMS.  The map above shows the distribution of
the current 150 station network with respect to network
operations.  This includes 4 planned stations to be installed
 PACIFIC NORTHWEST
SEISMIC NETWORK

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) is

an organization dedicated to reducing impacts of
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the states of
Washington and Oregon by providing accurate and fast
information about earthquakes and ground motions to
scientists, engineers, planners, and the public.
 INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF
DIGITAL SEISMOGRAPH NETWORKS

The International Federation of Digital

Seismograph Networks (FDSN) is a global organization.
Its membership is comprised of groups responsible for
the installation and maintenance of seismographs either
within their geographic borders or globally.
 LAMONT-DOHERTY
COOPERATIVE SEISMOGRAPHIC
NETWORK

The Lamont-Doherty Cooperative Seismographic Network

(LCSN) monitors earthquakes that occur primarily in the
northeastern United States. The goal of the project is to compile a
complete earthquake catalog for this region to assess the
earthquake hazards, and to study the causes of the earthquakes in
the region. The LCSN now operates 40 seismographic stations in
seven states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.