they are detirmened how high the s wave is
The difference in arrival time is used to find the distance to an Earthquake's epicentre.
The difference in arrival times between P and S-waves as measured on a seismometer can be used to determine the distance to the origin.
Using the difference in their arrival times and an estimate of their velocity of propagation you can calculate the distance of the earthquake epicentre from the seismometer recording station. If you do this from three or more different seismometer stations you can triangulate it's position. For more information please see the related question.
4. shear waves and compression waves travel at different speeds, therefore the difference in arrival time can be used to fix the distance.
Triangulation. First, they calculate the time between the first and second - primary and secondary - seismic waves created in an earthquake and use this information to determine how far the seismometer is from the epicenter of the earthquake. A circle is drawn around the seismometer so that it is in the center and the radius is equal to the calculated distance. Using this information from three different seismometers, two more circles are drawn and the intersecting point of the three circles is where the epicenter of the earthquake is located.
Given the difference in arrival times, you can determine the distance from the epicenter.
Seismic waves can be used to determine the location of an earthquake focus. These waves are triggered by tectonic plates.
The difference in arrival time is used to find the distance to an Earthquake's epicentre.
The amplitude of seismic waves as measured by a seismometer.
The difference in arrival times between P and S-waves as measured on a seismometer can be used to determine the distance to the origin.
epicenter and seiesmic waves, find the distance and seismograph stations
Using the difference in their arrival times and an estimate of their velocity of propagation you can calculate the distance of the earthquake epicentre from the seismometer recording station. If you do this from three or more different seismometer stations you can triangulate it's position. For more information please see the related question.
By measuring the difference in arrival times at a seismometer station they can be used to determine the distance to the epicentre of an earthquake. They may also be used to estimate the properties of the subsurface and it's structure (refraction and reflection seismology). Please see the related questions for further information.
The epicenr can be found by location the sound in the waves carried.
4. shear waves and compression waves travel at different speeds, therefore the difference in arrival time can be used to fix the distance.
The simplified answer is that it works much in the same way you would determine the source of a sound (which is also in waves). Multiple measurements of the intensity are taken from different locations are used to triangulate an earthquake.
seismographs