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How can three stations help locate an earthquake?

An earthquake sends out different kinds of waves that arrive at a station at different times. The gap between P-wave and S-wave arrivals helps estimate distance, but distance alone leaves many possible locations. Combining observations from several stations narrows the search for the epicenter.

8–10 min

Questions you could explore

  • Why is a distance estimate not yet a location?
  • How might uncertain arrival times affect the result?

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How can three stations help locate an earthquake? | Speech Topic | speaking.app