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Activity 3 (Magnitude)

The document discusses determining the magnitude of earthquakes using the Richter scale. It describes measuring the maximum S-wave amplitude from seismograms recorded at three stations near an earthquake. Using those measurements and Richter's nomogram, the student estimates the magnitude of the earthquake as 3.0.

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Emilio L. Millondaga
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50 views5 pages

Activity 3 (Magnitude)

The document discusses determining the magnitude of earthquakes using the Richter scale. It describes measuring the maximum S-wave amplitude from seismograms recorded at three stations near an earthquake. Using those measurements and Richter's nomogram, the student estimates the magnitude of the earthquake as 3.0.

Uploaded by

Emilio L. Millondaga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EARTHQUAKEENGINEERING:ACTIVITY2ENGR.

CALAQU
E,DARIOJR.A.
UNIVERSITYOFMINDANAO-MAIN

Determining Earthquake Magnitude


So far you have worked on locating the epicenter of an earthquake. The next questions to
ask are "How strong was this particular earthquake and how does it compare to other
earthquakes?"

here are many ways that one could evaluate the relative strength of an earthquake: from the cost

T of repairs resulting from damage, from the length of rupture of the earthquake fault, from the
amount of ground shaking, etc. But determining the strength of an earthquake using these kinds of
"estimators" is full of potential problems and subjectivity. For example, the cost of repairs resulting
from a strong earthquake in a remote region would be much less than that of a moderate earthquake in a
populated area. Furthermore, the degree of damage would depend greatly on the quality of construction.
Also, only a few earthquakes produce actual ground ruptures at the surface.

A well-known scale used to compare the strengths of earthquakes involves using the
records (the seismograms) of an earthquake's shock waves. The scale, known as the
Richter Magnitude Scale, was introduced into the science of seismology in 1935 by Dr. C.
F. Richter of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The magnitude of an
earthquake is an estimate of the total amount of energy released during fault rupture.

Richter Magnitude
Below are the three seismograms of the earthquake you are studying. You have already determined the
epicentral distances. Measure the maximum amplitude of the S-wave for each seismogram and record your
estimate. Note that although only one amplitude measurement is necessary, you should measure the
amplitude for each of the three stations. This will enable you to determine the magnitude value as an average
of three values, thus increasing the likelihood that you are accurate in your estimate.

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EARTHQUAKEENGINEERING:ACTIVITY2ENGR.CALAQU
E,DARIOJR.A.
UNIVERSITYOFMINDANAO-MAIN

Pusan Seismic Station Maximum S-Wave Amplitude=__90__ mm

Tokyo Seismic Station Maximum S-Wave Amplitude=__210__ mm

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EARTHQUAKEENGINEERING:ACTIVITY2ENGR.CALAQU
E,DARIOJR.A.
UNIVERSITYOFMINDANAO-MAIN

Akita Seismic Station Maximum S-Wave Amplitude=__30__ mm

Richter ’s Nomogram
Although the relationship between Richter magnitude and the measured amplitude and S-P interval is complex,
a graphical device (a nomogram) can be used to simplify the process and to estimate magnitude from distance
and amplitude.

In the diagram below the dotted line represents the "standard" Richter earthquake. This standard earthquake is
100 km away and produces 1 mm of amplitude on the seismogram. It is assigned a magnitude of 3. Other
earthquakes can then be referenced to this standard.

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EARTHQUAKEENGINEERING:ACTIVITY1ENGR.CALAQU
E,DARIOJR.A.
UNIVERSITYOFMINDANAO-MAIN

Below is Richter's nomogram. Use this diagram and estimate the Richter magnitude of this earthquake.
Label every line with its corresponding station {Pusan, Tokyo, Akita}

My E stimate for the Richter Ma gnitude of this ea rthquake = M___3.0____

Tolerance
I’ll accept your readings if you’ll get an actual reading ±𝟎. 𝟏, otherwise you will repeat this
activity.
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