Assignment One

Question: - An earthquake occurred at the Gulf of Eden at epicentral distance of 200Km from
seismographic station C and 800Km from seismographic station A. at seismographic station
B, P-wave recorded a head of s-wave with arrival time difference 8sec. the maximum
amplitude of P-wave was also measured as 6mm, 10mm and 2mm from seismogram of
station A, B and C respectively. The velocity of P-wave and S-wave at station B was 3600m/s
and 2800m/s respectively. Using the data obtained from the three earthquake recording
stations,
A. Locate the epicenter of the earthquake?
B. Determine the magnitude of earthquake in Richter scale at each sites?
C. Comment for the variability of magnitude measured at a recording station B and C?
D. If all governing factors are similar, list the stations in order of increasing severity of the
seismic hazard?
E. List the factors governing building performance and damage during earthquake?
F. Discuss on the Major earthquake induced process associated with this earthquake?
Answers
Given
DC = 200Km; DA = 800Km; tp-s = 8s;
VS, B = 2800 m/s;

AA = 6 mm;

AB = 10 mm; AC = 2 mm

VP, B = 3600m/s

Solution
A)

d= 1
2800

8
+

1 = 100800m = 100.8Km
3600

B)
At station A: - D = 800Km;

A = 6mm

M = log10 + 3log10 3.38 = log6 + 3log800 3.38 = 6.1

At station B: - D = 100Km;

A = 10mm

M = log10 + 2.76log10 2.48 = log10 + 2.76log100 2.48 = 4.04

At station C: - D = 200Km;

A = 2mm

M = log10 + 1.6log10 0.15 = log2 + 1.6log200 0.15 = 3.83

C)
The magnitude of the earthquake is stronger at station B because the epicenter
of the earthquake is closer to it whereas the magnitude of the earthquake is weaker
at station C because the epicenter of the earthquake is further from it. And also the
amplitude of the earthquake at station B is larger than the amplitude at station C.
D)

Station C

Station B

Station A

Source of earthquake

Site conditions

Travel path

Surface rupture: - it occurs when movement on a fault deep within the earth

E)

F)

breaks through to the surface. But not all earthquakes result in surface
rupture.

Ground shaking: - it describes the vibration of the ground during an

earthquake. Most earthquake damage results from the shaking caused by
seismic waves passing under buildings, roads, and other structures.

Subsidence: - during earthquakes ground movement may occur, raising or

lowering the ground surface. Earthquakes can also cause subsidence by rapidly
decreasing the load-bearing capacity, or strength, of loose earth materials, or
sediments, due to liquefaction.

Landslides and slope failures: - they are frequently triggered by strong ground
motions. Earthquakes create stresses that make weak slopes fail. Earthquakes
of magnitude 4.0 and greater have been known to trigger landslides.

Liquefaction: - it occurs when vibrations from an earthquake, or other

disturbance, cause water sediments to temporarily lose their grain-to-grain
contact, which gives them their load bearing capacity.

Tsunami: - A tsunami is a series of huge waves that occur as a result of a violent

underwater disturbance, such as an earthquake.