Activity 1 - Module 1 Earthquake Engineering

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Name: ___________________________________ BSCE _____________

A. Use these three seismograms to estimate the S-P time interval for each of the recording stations. Mark on each
seismogram the arrival of the first P-wave, first S-wave, S-P time and maximum amplitude of S-wave. B. Determine
the distance from the epicenter for each seismograph station using the time travel curve. Plot corresponding S-P
time to distance.
C. Locate the epicenter of the earthquake using the given map. Use compass to locate the epicenter of the earthquake.
D. Determine the magnitude of the earthquake using Richter Nomograph. Plot solution.
E. Determine the energy released and equivalent atomic bombs produced by this earthquake event.
F. How strong/weak is this earthquake compare to an 8.8 earthquake event?
G. Determine the energy magnitude and moment magnitude for this earthquake event.

Las
Vegas, NV Phoenix, AZ

Fresno, CA
Time-travel
curve Richter Nomogram
Summarize your answers using the table below.
Station S – P time Distance from Maximum Epicenter of Estimated
interval (sec) Epicenter (km) Amplitude of the Earthquake Magnitude
S-wave
(mm)

Las Vegas, NV

Phoenix, AZ

Fresno, CA

Energy released Equiv.


Atomic
bombs

Comparison to
8.8 earthquake
event

Energy Moment
Magnitude, ME magnitude,
Mw

H. Using the Richter Nomogram, what would be the magnitude of an earthquake with the following characteristics?

1. a time difference of 6 seconds and a 100 mm amplitude? ______________


2. a time difference of 20 seconds and 1 mm? ______________
3. a time difference of 2 seconds and 100 mm? ______________
4. a distance of 500 km and 100 mm? ______________
5. a distance of 20 km and 0.2 mm? ______________
6. Looked at another way, what would be the seismic wave trace amplitude in mm of a ML=4.0 earthquake, if it were
100 km away? ______________
7. How many seconds would separate the arrival times of P waves and S waves if a ML=2.0 earthquake produced a
maximum trace amplitude of 0.5 mm? ______________

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