Seismometers (instruments for recording earthquakes) are tested and fitted at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory before going out into the field.
What was the first instrument that actually recorded an earthquake?
The earliest seismoscope was invented by the Chinese philosopher Chang Heng in A.D. 132. This was a large urn on the outside of which were eight dragon heads facing the eight principal directions of the compass. Below each dragon head was a toad with its mouth opened toward the dragon. When an earthquake occurred, one or more of the eight dragon-mouths would release a ball into the open mouth of the toad sitting below. The direction of the shaking determined which of the dragons released its ball. The instrument is reported to have detected an earthquake 400 miles away that was not felt at the location of the seismoscope. The inside of the seismoscope is unknown: most speculations assume that the motion of some kind of pendulum would activate the dragons.
Learn more: A Brief History of Seismology to 1910
Related
How are earthquakes recorded? How are earthquakes measured? How is the magnitude of an earthquake determined?
Moment magnitude, Richter scale - what are the different magnitude scales, and why are there so many?
What is the difference between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity? What is the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale?
How do you determine the magnitude for an earthquake that occurred prior to the creation of the magnitude scale?
How do seismologists locate an earthquake?
What was the duration of the earthquake? Why don't you report the duration of each earthquake? How does the duration affect the magnitude?
How can an earthquake have a negative magnitude?
What does it mean that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 0 km? How can an earthquake have a negative depth; that would mean it’s in the air. What is the geoid, and what does it have to do with earthquake depth?
Seismometers, seismographs, seismograms - what's the difference? How do they work?
How can I make my own seismometer?
What is a Geoid? Why do we use it and where does its shape come from?
Seismometers (instruments for recording earthquakes) are tested and fitted at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory before going out into the field.
Earthquake hazards: A national threat
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program - investing in a safer future
ANSS-Advanced National Seismic System
Taking the Earth's pulse
Monitoring earthquakes across the United States
Related
How are earthquakes recorded? How are earthquakes measured? How is the magnitude of an earthquake determined?
Moment magnitude, Richter scale - what are the different magnitude scales, and why are there so many?
What is the difference between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity? What is the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale?
How do you determine the magnitude for an earthquake that occurred prior to the creation of the magnitude scale?
How do seismologists locate an earthquake?
What was the duration of the earthquake? Why don't you report the duration of each earthquake? How does the duration affect the magnitude?
How can an earthquake have a negative magnitude?
What does it mean that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 0 km? How can an earthquake have a negative depth; that would mean it’s in the air. What is the geoid, and what does it have to do with earthquake depth?
Seismometers, seismographs, seismograms - what's the difference? How do they work?
How can I make my own seismometer?
What is a Geoid? Why do we use it and where does its shape come from?
Seismometers (instruments for recording earthquakes) are tested and fitted at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory before going out into the field.
Seismometers (instruments for recording earthquakes) are tested and fitted at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory before going out into the field.