Seismic Tomography
Definition
A technique that uses seismic wave travel times to create 3D images of Earth's interior structure, similar to a medical CT scan. Reveals mantle plumes, subducting slabs, and other deep structures.
Example
Seismic tomography revealed the sinking Farallon Plate beneath North America.
Related Terms
Related Guides
P-Waves and S-Waves: How Seismic Waves Travel
Learn how P-waves and S-waves travel through Earth, why P-waves arrive first, and how scientists use them to locate earthquakes.
The 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake: The Largest Ever Recorded
At M9.5, the 1960 Chile earthquake remains the most powerful ever recorded. Its tsunami crossed the Pacific Ocean and reached Japan.
Mantle Convection: The Heat Engine Driving Plate Motion
Earth's mantle circulates like a slow-motion boiler, driving tectonic plates. Learn how heat from the core powers earthquakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the hypocenter (focus) where the earthquake rupture begins. It is typically reported as latitude and longitude coordinates. The strongest shaking usually occurs near the epicenter, though local soil conditions and fault geometry can shift the zone of maximum damage.
A seismograph (or seismometer) is an instrument that detects and records ground motion caused by seismic waves. Modern broadband seismometers can detect movements smaller than the width of an atom. Networks of seismographs around the world enable scientists to locate earthquakes and determine their magnitude within minutes.
P-waves (primary waves) are compressional waves that travel fastest through rock, arriving first at seismic stations. S-waves (secondary waves) are shear waves that arrive later but cause more ground shaking. P-waves travel through solids, liquids, and gases; S-waves only travel through solids. The time difference between them helps determine earthquake distance.
The hypocenter (or focus) is the point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture initiates. It is described by latitude, longitude, and depth. The vertical distance between the hypocenter and the surface directly above is the earthquake's depth, which strongly influences how the earthquake is felt at the surface.
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of seismic waves through the Earth. It encompasses earthquake detection, location, and characterization; Earth's internal structure; seismic hazard assessment; and earthquake engineering. Seismologists use data from global seismograph networks to study these phenomena.