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the distance to the epicenter
The distance between a seismic station and the earthquake epicenter is determined from the S-P interval, which is the time difference between the time of arrival of the first P wave and the first S wave.
Technically you just need one, but the more there are, the easier it is to locate the epicenter of the earthquake. The reason for this is that based on the timing of each of the three seismic waves that reach the station, the station can calculate a radius all around the station. So picture a circle with what the radius is around the station, another station will do the same thing, and there HAS TO BE an intersection of these circles somewhere, so that narrows down the location of the epicenter. Hope this makes sense.
Given the difference in arrival times, you can determine the distance from the epicenter.
Three
At least three.Please see the related question for an explanation as to why.A minimum of three seismograph or seismometer stations are required to locate the epicentre of an earthquake.
the distance to the epicenter
The difference in arrival times of P and S waves.
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It is necessary to know thedistance from the epicenter for at least three recording stations so, geologist could compare better and when an epicenter is created they can know which one is the farthest and which one is the closest.
3.5 minutes after the earthquake.
The distance between a seismic station and the earthquake epicenter is determined from the S-P interval, which is the time difference between the time of arrival of the first P wave and the first S wave.
The distance between a seismic station and the earthquake epicenter is determined from the S-P interval, which is the time difference between the time of arrival of the first P wave and the first S wave.
Three stations would best pinpoint the epicentre by triangulation.
Technically you just need one, but the more there are, the easier it is to locate the epicenter of the earthquake. The reason for this is that based on the timing of each of the three seismic waves that reach the station, the station can calculate a radius all around the station. So picture a circle with what the radius is around the station, another station will do the same thing, and there HAS TO BE an intersection of these circles somewhere, so that narrows down the location of the epicenter. Hope this makes sense.
Each circle is actually the radius around a reporting station. To find an earthquake's epicenter, you need at least three reporting stations. The radius around each station should meet at one point, the epicenter. This point should be about the size of a town, depending on how close or far the reporting stations are. With any less than three reporting stations, the exact point of the epicenter may not be located.