seismograms
Earthquake wave charts
Seismograms are visual records of ground vibrations produced by a seismograph—the wavy lines that spike dramatically during earthquakes.
Scientists read seismograms to determine an earthquake's magnitude, depth, and distance from the recording station.
The characteristic zigzag pattern has become an icon of seismic activity: The seismogram showed a 5.2 magnitude event.
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- shakingRapid involuntary movement
- pulsationRhythmic expansion and contraction
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
jolt · shock · undulation · ambient · mechanical · industrial · explosion
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- faultImperfection or blame
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- mainshockLargest earthquake in sequence
subduction · tectonics · crust · mantle · tsunami · liquefaction · shake · swarm
Size or scale
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- hypocenterEarthquake's underground origin point
- depthDistance below surface
- momentBrief period of time
Richter · location · inversion · tomography · source · rupture · pick · detection
Longitudinal seismic wave
- S-waveTransverse seismic vibration
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
oscillation · arrival · onset · coda · phase · propagation · reflection · refraction
Minute remnant or pursue
- drumStruck percussion cylinder
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- inkWriting fluid
- needlePointed implement for sewing
stylus · sensor · instrument · data · archive · historical · measurement · register
oscillation
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- shakingRapid involuntary movement
- pulsationRhythmic expansion and contraction
resonance · jolt · shock · undulation · ambient · mechanical · industrial · explosion
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- faultImperfection or blame
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
mainshock · subduction · tectonics · crust · mantle · tsunami · liquefaction · shake · swarm · microseism
magnitude
Size or scale
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- hypocenterEarthquake's underground origin point
- depthDistance below surface
moment · Richter · location · inversion · tomography · source · rupture · pick · detection · catalog
P-wave
Longitudinal seismic wave
- S-waveTransverse seismic vibration
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
period · oscillation · arrival · onset · coda · phase · propagation · reflection · refraction · dispersion
trace
Minute remnant or pursue
needle · stylus · sensor · instrument · data · archive · historical · measurement · register · capture
seismograph, seismographs, seismogram, seismography, seismographers