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Scientists can calculate the distance that an earthquake occurs from a seismometer station by looking at the record of the seismic waves and measuring the difference in time between the arrival of P and S-waves.

This gives them a distance but not a direction. So they plot this distance on a map by drawing a circle round the seismometer station. The radius of this circle is equal to the distance to the epicentre.

If this is done for one other seismometer station that has recorded the earthquake then the circles will intersect in two places. If you add in a 3rd station and so a third circle they will all intersect in one place - the epicentre of the earthquake.

In reality this process is automated by computer and lots of readings from lots of stations are used.

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Q: How do you use circles to find the epicenter of an earthquake?
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Do geologist locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

They Use A Seismograp and look at the squiggles on the paper.


What is it called when scientists use 3 or more seismographs to locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

triangulating its loction


What do geologists use to locate a earthquakes epicenter?

The S-P time method is perhaps the simplest method seismologists use to find an earthquake's epicenter. +++ No it's not. That finds its Focus. The Epicentre is the point of maximum movement on the land surface above the slip itself.


How do people sense seismic waves?

They use the Richter scale to measure the speed of the earthquakes. Levels of earthquakes 2.0 ---> can't be felt 4.0 ---> do not cause damage 5.0---> can cause damage 6.0 ---> considered strong 7.0---> is a major earthquake +++ That is not correct. You have confused speed with intensity. The Richter scale, which is logarithmic, measures the intensity ("strength" if you like). The speed is measured in ordinary linear units like metre/second or km/hr, calculated from observing the earthquake's waves' progress past seismographs around the world.


Is data about an earthquake from two seismographic stations enough information to locate the epicenter?

From Science Explorer Prentice Hall Earth Science: " Geologists use seismic waves to locate an earthquake's epicenter. Seismic waves travel at different speeds. P waves arrive at a seismograph first, with S waves following close behind. To tell how far the epicenter is from the seismograph, scientists measure the difference between the arrival time of the P waves and S waves. The farther away an earthquake is, the greater the time between arrival of the P waves and the S waves." Did this help?

Related questions

How do geologist locate the epicenter of earthquakes?

Geologists use circles to find the epicenter of an earthquake.


How do you use triangulation to find an epicenter of an earthquake?

To find the epicenter of an earthquake using triangulation, seismologists analyze the arrival times of seismic waves at three or more seismic stations. By comparing the differences in arrival times, they can determine the distances from each station to the epicenter. By drawing circles with the stations as the center and their respective distances as the radius, the intersection of these circles represents the estimated epicenter of the earthquake.


What does the radius of each circle represent when geologists use circles to find the epicenter of an earthquake?

it represents the after shock of a earthquake.- BEST ANSWER


Geologists use circles to find the epicenter of an earthquake what does the center of each circle re?

Focus Center


What is the process that is used to find an earthquake's epicenter?

To find an earthquake's epicenter, seismologists use data from three or more seismograph stations to triangulate the location. By analyzing the arrival times of seismic waves at different stations, they can determine the distance to the epicenter from each station. The point where the circles representing the distances intersect is the earthquake's epicenter.


Scientists use -------waves to find an earthquake epicenter?

Scientists use seismic waves to find an earthquake epicenter. By analyzing the arrival times of primary (P) and secondary (S) seismic waves at different seismic stations, scientists can triangulate the epicenter of the earthquake.


What waves do scientists use to find an earthquake's epicenter?

seismic waves


How do geologist locate the epicenter of an earthquake?

Geologists locate the epicenter of an earthquake by analyzing seismic data collected from multiple seismograph stations. The time difference between the arrival of P and S waves at each station helps determine the distance from the earthquake epicenter. By triangulating this information from at least three stations, geologists can pinpoint the epicenter.


What type of data do geologist use to locate an earthquake's epicenter?

Seismologists use the data from triangulated seismographs to locate an earthquake's epicenter. The difference in time between the arrival of p and s waves at a seismometer tells the distance to the epicenter of an earthquake. To get the exact location, scientists must collect data from at least three seismometers. The point where all three circles is the epicenter of the earthquake. +++ The Epicentre is generally obvious: it is the point of maximum disturbance on the surface. The centre of the actual slip is the Focus, and this has to be calculated from seismograph data by triangulating from wave velocities.


What is the simplest method seismologists use to find an earthquake's epicenter?

The S-P time method is perhaps the simplest method seismologists use to find an earthquake's epicenter. +++ No it's not. That finds its Focus. The Epicentre is the point of maximum movement on the land surface above the slip itself.


What type of data do geologists use to locate earthquakes epicenter?

Seismologists use the data from triangulated seismographs to locate an earthquake's epicenter. The difference in time between the arrival of p and s waves at a seismometer tells the distance to the epicenter of an earthquake. To get the exact location, scientists must collect data from at least three seismometers. The point where all three circles is the epicenter of the earthquake. +++ The Epicentre is generally obvious: it is the point of maximum disturbance on the surface. The centre of the actual slip is the Focus, and this has to be calculated from seismograph data by triangulating from wave velocities.


What type of data do geologists use to locate an earthquake's epicenter?

Geologists use seismic data collected from seismographs located around the world to pinpoint the exact location of an earthquake's epicenter. By analyzing the timing and intensity of seismic waves recorded at different stations, geologists can determine the epicenter's geographic coordinates.