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Geology & Earth Sciences vocabulary · Earthquakes & Seismology

Seismograph

Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples

/ˈsaɪzməɡræf/nounCommon term

In geology & earth sciences, seismograph means: An instrument that detects and records ground movement caused by earthquakes and other vibrations. The record it produces is called a seismogram.

In Turkish: sismograf, deprem kayıt cihazı

How it is used

Strictly, the seismometer is the sensor and the seismograph is the whole recording system, but people often use the words interchangeably. Seismographs work in networks; in Turkey, AFAD and Kandilli Observatory run national networks.

Example sentences

  1. Seismographs hundreds of kilometres away recorded the explosion.

  2. Each seismograph station sends its data to the centre in real time.

Common collocations

  • seismograph station
  • seismograph network
  • recorded by seismographs
  • seismogram
  • seismic waveA wave of energy that travels through the Earth or along its surface, produced by an earthquake, an explosion or another sudden ground movement.
  • earthquakeA sudden shaking of the ground caused by rocks breaking and slipping along a fault, which releases energy as seismic waves.
  • magnitudeA number that describes the size of an earthquake at its source, based on the energy released. Each whole step on the scale means about 32 times more energy.
  • hypocenterThe point underground where an earthquake rupture starts, also called the focus. Its depth below the surface is called the focal depth.

More terms: Earthquakes & Seismology

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