The following papers contain descriptions of a seismometer sensitive enough
to detect and record earthquakes from around the world. It can be built using
readily available parts from your local hardware store and from any general-
purpose mail-order electronics supplier. The seismometer is a modification
of the Lehman seismometer as described in various articles in
Scientific American
magazine.
Several of the described seismometers were built by students in the
Earth Sciences Dept. at the University
of Northern Colorado. The instruments have shown
excellent performance in the recording of worldwide teleseisms.
Once your system is up and running
you can correlate your recorded data with the near-real-time bulletin page
from the USGS Nat'l Earthquake Info Center.
A far more extensive treatment of do-it-yourself seismology can be found
on the Public Seismic Network's
excellent website. The PSN site contains valuable resources for both the
amateur and the professional.
|
