EarthRef.org Digital Archive (ERDA) -- Earthquake Lesson: Seismogram Basics

Description
This lesson begins with a set of slides describing the various types of seismic waves generated by earthquakes and how these earthquakes travel through Earth. The motion of P and S body waves can be demonstrated in the classroom using a Slinky (see References and Resources, below, for more information). Propagation of these waves through the entire planet is shown using an animation from Alan Jones¿ Seismic Waves program. Seismic data from a station in southern California is used to explore how noise affects our ability to record useful signals for studying earthquakes. The slide set ends with some information about a nationwide program to record seismic data using a moving set of seismometers called US Array.