Seismology has always been grouped with earthquakes and that has always been true to most people. The actual truth is it is not always the focus even though studying earthquakes is the main component of this discipline of science. Seismologists and Geophysicists actually also study the effects of earthquakes in general and also the effects of man-made seismic activity and then the movement of the elastic waves through the Earth. Scientists use many tools to help them study movement all over the earth.
The Seismometer which is used by seismologists is the first on the list and they would need to learn how to use it. In the past this was just a tool being showcased as the size and duration of seismic waves. In the news broadcasts you would have watched these devices giving of the seismic activity data before, during and after an earthquake. The other name for this is a seismograph and it records seismic activity by many stations all over the world in constant watch. They usually record the activity of it and not just about the activity in today's seismometers which most scientists would study about the data more easily.
The first types of seismographs were invented in China nearly 2,000 years ago. These monitored wind events as well as ground movement. By the late 19th century, a more modern version of the seismograph was invented by Thomas Gray, John Milne and James Alfred Ewing. While this device could not detect the occurrence of far-away earthquakes, it did provide helpful data as to the location of nearby earthquakes. This helped scientists study different types of earthquakes and fault lines.
A strain-meter is an interesting device used by scientists who are studying earthquakes and this is actually placed deep into the earth as much as 500 feet below the surface. It detects small movements under the earth's surface. The strain-meter can record changes in the earth at lower frequencies than you could with a seismometer. When they have been in place for long periods of time, they can show how stress builds up due to plate tectonics and record the release of this stress or changes in stresses after a seismic event.
Theodolites, such as those produced by Warren Knight, are another tool commonly used by seismologists. While you might think of the theodolite as a tool primarily for surveying engineers, this device is quite helpful in measuring creep movement or the movement that occurs in the earth's crust as a reaction to earthquakes.
There are other events that may be studied by seismologists, including volcanoes and man-made seismic movements. An inclinometer or tilt meter can be a helpful tool in these instances, especially in highlighting the build-up of stress and pressure in an active volcano. Some of the human-made seismic events might include explosions, such as those in a mining operation. Hydraulic fracturing also affects the earth, and seismologists also use many tools to study this man-made movement.
The Seismometer which is used by seismologists is the first on the list and they would need to learn how to use it. In the past this was just a tool being showcased as the size and duration of seismic waves. In the news broadcasts you would have watched these devices giving of the seismic activity data before, during and after an earthquake. The other name for this is a seismograph and it records seismic activity by many stations all over the world in constant watch. They usually record the activity of it and not just about the activity in today's seismometers which most scientists would study about the data more easily.
The first types of seismographs were invented in China nearly 2,000 years ago. These monitored wind events as well as ground movement. By the late 19th century, a more modern version of the seismograph was invented by Thomas Gray, John Milne and James Alfred Ewing. While this device could not detect the occurrence of far-away earthquakes, it did provide helpful data as to the location of nearby earthquakes. This helped scientists study different types of earthquakes and fault lines.
A strain-meter is an interesting device used by scientists who are studying earthquakes and this is actually placed deep into the earth as much as 500 feet below the surface. It detects small movements under the earth's surface. The strain-meter can record changes in the earth at lower frequencies than you could with a seismometer. When they have been in place for long periods of time, they can show how stress builds up due to plate tectonics and record the release of this stress or changes in stresses after a seismic event.
Theodolites, such as those produced by Warren Knight, are another tool commonly used by seismologists. While you might think of the theodolite as a tool primarily for surveying engineers, this device is quite helpful in measuring creep movement or the movement that occurs in the earth's crust as a reaction to earthquakes.
There are other events that may be studied by seismologists, including volcanoes and man-made seismic movements. An inclinometer or tilt meter can be a helpful tool in these instances, especially in highlighting the build-up of stress and pressure in an active volcano. Some of the human-made seismic events might include explosions, such as those in a mining operation. Hydraulic fracturing also affects the earth, and seismologists also use many tools to study this man-made movement.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier enjoys writing about precision scientific instruments. To find a top quality precision alignment instrument, or to find more details about surveying instruments, check out the WarrenKnight.com website today.
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