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To calculate an earthquake's starting time, seismologists compare seismograms and note the differences in arrival times of P and S waves.

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Q: How do seismologists determine an earthquake's starting time?
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What is the difference of the P waves and S waves used to locate an earthquake's epicenter?

P waves, also called primary waves, are the first waves to be registered on a seismograph. The S waves, or secondary waves, are the second and slower wave to register on the seismograph. When locating an earthquakes epicenter seismologists take the first reading of the P wave, and then take the reading from the S wave. At the station of where the earthquake was recorded, seismologists draw a large circle from where the earthquakes epicenter could be. TO exactly located the earthquakes epicenter there needs to be at least 3 dfferent staions where the earthquake hit to determine its epicenter using the S and P time interval. 


What do you call a person that predicts an earthquake?

You would call that person lucky. The scientists who study earthquakes are known as seismologists and they say that it is currently not possible to predict when an earthquake will occur.Technically nobody as earthquake prediction is currently impossible however seismologists will produce seismological hazard assessments in an attempt to quantify the likelihood of occurrence of a seismic event of a given magnitude occurring within a given time period on a fault.Seismologist


What is the difference between long-term earthquakes and short-term?

long term earthquakes are earthquakes that are for a long period of time and short term earthquakes are when the earthquakes are for a short period of time


What season do earthquakes occur?

Earthquakes are not a seasonal phenomenon and so the time of year has no effect on the occurrence of earthquakes. As such, earthquakes can happen at any time of the year as they occur independent of weather and climate.


When did the earthquakes start happening?

There are earthquakes all the time, and there have been earthquake since the Earth was created.

Related questions

What is the difference of the P waves and S waves used to locate an earthquake's epicenter?

P waves, also called primary waves, are the first waves to be registered on a seismograph. The S waves, or secondary waves, are the second and slower wave to register on the seismograph. When locating an earthquakes epicenter seismologists take the first reading of the P wave, and then take the reading from the S wave. At the station of where the earthquake was recorded, seismologists draw a large circle from where the earthquakes epicenter could be. TO exactly located the earthquakes epicenter there needs to be at least 3 dfferent staions where the earthquake hit to determine its epicenter using the S and P time interval. 


What do you call a person that predicts an earthquake?

You would call that person lucky. The scientists who study earthquakes are known as seismologists and they say that it is currently not possible to predict when an earthquake will occur.Technically nobody as earthquake prediction is currently impossible however seismologists will produce seismological hazard assessments in an attempt to quantify the likelihood of occurrence of a seismic event of a given magnitude occurring within a given time period on a fault.Seismologist


Do Geologists use the difference in the arrival time of P and S waves at a seismograph to determine the magnitude of an earthquake?

No. Seismologists (a type of geophysicist) use the difference in the arrival time of P and S waves to estimate the distance from the seismometer station to the epicentre of the earthquake.


Can scientist predict earthquakes?

Earthquake prediction is currently not possible, as such, seismologists will attempt to quantify the risk posed by a particular fault zone rather than state exactly when an earthquake will occur. For more information, please see the related question.


Does Ecuador get earthquakes?

Yes,Equador should get Earthquakes in time to time.


What is the difference between long-term earthquakes and short-term?

long term earthquakes are earthquakes that are for a long period of time and short term earthquakes are when the earthquakes are for a short period of time


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.


What can give a warning for earthquakes about one tenth of the time?

If you take the past earthquakes and study them and how they were you can find out about where some future earthquakes might be then you can provide a warning for earthquakes about 10% of the time.


Why at the time of earthquakes temples does not fall?

Temples fall in earthquakes all the time. And they kill whoever is inside them at the time.


Which months do Japan have their earthquakes in?

There is no specific time frame that earthquakes occur in.


How many times has Japan experienced earthquakes?

Japan, being on a natural faultline, has earthquakes all the time. It is believed that the land of the country was formed completely from earthquake activity, pushed up from the Earth through the ocean. You would need to specify a time frame seeing as there's been so many earthquakes in Japan over the centuries.


What season do earthquakes occur?

Earthquakes are not a seasonal phenomenon and so the time of year has no effect on the occurrence of earthquakes. As such, earthquakes can happen at any time of the year as they occur independent of weather and climate.