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Recording seismic waves
Geology Department Records Chile Earthquake
4th March 2010
Staff and students at Hereford Sixth Form College were delighted to record seismic waves from Saturday’s Chilean earthquake on their new seismometer.
The equipment, donated by Plymouth University through the British Geological Survey’s School Seismology Project, has only recently been installed at the College.
Early on Saturday morning, it clearly picked up the seismic waves released by the 8.8 magnitude event, one of the largest earthquakes in history.
Over the next few weeks, the data will be analysed and uploaded on to the web, joining with a network of other schools and colleges from all over the world
Dan Newton, Head of Geology -
“It’s great actually to be able to record real earthquake data onto our computers here at College to make this topic come alive. It’s amazing to think that an earthquake so far away is actually able to shake the buildings here at the College”
“By studying the data and sharing it with other colleges we can determine the position of the epicentre and estimate the strength of the earthquake”
“You can clearly identify the arrivals of the different kinds of seismic waves”
There are currently over 100 students doing A level Geology at College, and many of them are going on to study related subjects at university. Several students helped to build and install the instrument.
Students have commented:
Stephen Watkins – “Its amazing to pick up earthquakes from the other side of the world”. Stephen is planning to study Geology with a year abroad.
Hannah Tuffin - “We’re collecting data just like professional seismologists, recording one of the largest earthquakes in history” . Hannah hopes to study Geology at degree level
Amy Flynn - “Helping to build and set up the instrument gave us a great sense of achievement”. Amy is planning to study Geography with a year abroad.