Question

The difference in arrival times of P and S waves at a seismic observatory can be used to calculate the distance to a quake but not the ____ from the station.

Answer 1

Direction

Step-by-step explanation:

The arrival of seismic waves namely P and S wave are essential as it helps in the determination of the distance from the recording seismic station. In order to cover all the possibilities that are related to an earthquake, seismologists draw a circle around the station but this does not help in obtaining the proper information. By the use of two seismic stations, it can draw two circles that intersect at two points, which again does not help in determining the exact epicenter location. So, at least three seismic stations are needed, by which the triangulation method can be implemented, and as the three circles drawn from the three seismic stations intersect at one common point, it represents the exact location of the earthquake epicenter, and the exact direction also is obtained from this.