Earthquake and Urbanization

Rising population, urbanization compound perils of

earthquakes
The death and devastation caused by major earthquakes around the world can only worsen in the years to come, as
urban development and unprecedented population growth compound the lethal effects of natural seismic hazards,
experts say.

Big earthquakes strike regularly -- with about 18 measuring a magnitude 7.0 or greater every year on average, and
four or five above the very dangerous 7.6 level. The recent destructive temblors in Turkey, Greece and Taiwan do not
signify any increase in quake activity.

What has changed is that more and more people are living near faults. With the global population expected to pass
the 6 billion mark next month, there are fewer unpopulated places for quakes to strike. With ever more people to
accommodate, there is more multistory construction in vulnerable fault zones as well.

As a result, destructive earthquakes such as those of the past several weeks "are the wave of the future," said
seismic expert Kerry Sieh of the California Institute of Technology.

"There are 40 cities of a million or more people within [62 miles] of a major plate boundary, and all those are good
candidates for a large event. Our exposure to the hazard is increasing."

Some experts suggest that in recent decades, the world has experienced a lull in the most severe earthquakes --
those of magnitude 8.0 or greater. If so, even more destruction is to be expected when the lull ends.

Taiwan is shaken by dozens of quakes every year, caused by the inexorable crush of two major tectonic plates that
squeeze the island from the east and west at the relatively rapid rate of several centimeters a year, building up
seismic energy like the tension in a coiled spring.

Tuesday's disaster in Taiwan was the most recent in a series of damaging urban earthquakes in just over a decade.

Devastating tremors killed at least 16,000 people during a 7.4 earthquake in Turkey in August. At least 122 people
died during a 5.8 temblor in Athens, Greece, several weeks later. More than 6,400 people died in a 1995 quake in
Kobe, Japan. The 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles and the 1987 Loma Prieta temblor near San Francisco
were among the most costly natural disasters in U.S. history.

Millions of earthquakes occur around the world annually. Most are too small to be felt. An average of 3,000
magnitude 5.0 quakes are recorded each year.

The destruction caused by an earthquake is unpredictable.

Tuesday's Taiwanese earthquake, at 7.6, was roughly twice as powerful as the 7.4 quake that racked Turkey last
month. But the death toll may be only one-tenth as high, in large part because construction codes in Taiwan were
more strictly enforced than in Turkey, several experts said.

Other factors can also make a huge difference. Several seismic hazard experts say that if the epicenter of the
Northridge earthquake had been a few miles to the south, more directly under the downtown area, or if it had
occurred during the day, the death toll might have reached the thousands, rather than the dozens, with damages of
$100 billion or more.
Officials in Taiwan said that temblor could have been even more deadly, had its timing and location been slightly
different.

"We roll the dice every time," said earthquake hazard analyst Charles Kircher.

But as urban boundaries expand to accommodate growing populations, those dice are being weighted for disaster.
"We get closer to known faults and put more people on top of the faults," Kircher said.

"There has been a fourfold increase in the world's population since the 1906 San Francisco quake, and, if you look at
the numbers, most of the million people who have died this century in earthquakes have died in poorly built urban
areas."

While better construction can save many lives, some experts worry that quake-specific engineering solutions will
foster the belief that it is safe to build in areas with a high potential for earthquakes, thereby making the long-term
hazard worse.
The Jan. 23, 1556 earthquake in the northwestern province of Shaanxi (formerly Shensi) was
the deadliest earthquake in history. It is estimated that the magnitude of the quake, which took
place during the Ming Dynasty, was 8. Nearly 830,000 people are believed to have died.

Two other of the deadliest earthquakes took place in Iran over 1,100 years ago. According to
verbal and written sources, 350,000 people lost their lives in the two quakes.

The deadliest earthquakes in history:

Shaanxi earthquake, China, Jan 23, 1556.

The Shaanxi earthquake is known as the deadliest earthquake in history. It took place in the
northwestern Shaanxi province (formerly Shensi) on Jan 23, 1556. 830,000 people are
estimated to have died in in the 8-magnitude quake.

Some 840 kilometers of the area were devastated by the quake, and nearly 60 percent of the
region’s population lost their lives.

Tangshan earthquake, China, July 28, 1976

The second-deadliest earthquake also happened in China. The Tangshan quake -- causing the
most casualties in the last hundred years -- hit the industrial city of Tangshan on July 28, 1976.
Some 255,000 people died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, and an 800,000 were injured.

The earthquake destroyed nearly 180 buildings in only about 10 seconds, and caused damage
as far away as Beijing.

Aleppo earthquake, Syria, Oct. 11, 1138

The third-deadliest earthquake in history struck the northern Syrian Aleppo province on Oct. 11,
1138. More than 230,000 people lost their lives. The magnitude of the quake is unknown.

Sumatra earthquake, Indonesia, Dec. 26, 2004

Fourteen countries in the South Asian and African coasts of the Indian Ocean were affected by
9.1-magnitude earthquake which hit Indonesia’s island of Sumatra. More than 227,000 people
lost their lives and 50,000 people disappeared in Indonesia in the quake and subsequent
tsunami. Nearly 1.7 million people were displaced.
Haiti earthquake, Jan. 12, 2010
Approximately 222,000 people died in this magnitude 7 earthquake in Haiti, and more than
300,000 people were injured. 1.3 million people were displaced by the quake, and nearly
100,000 houses were destroyed.

Damghan earthquake, Iran, Dec. 22, 856

More than 200,000 people were killed in the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Iran’s
northeast Semnan province in the Damghan region. The sixth-deadliest quake took the most
casualties in Iranian history.

Haiyuan earthquake, China, Dec. 16, 1920

It took place on Dec. 16, 1920 in Haiyuan County, Ningxia Province, China. The Ganyanchi
earthquake -- as it is also called -- claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people.

Ardabil earthquake, Iran, on Mar. 23, 893

This destructive quake struck the city of Ardabil in Iran, on March 23, 893. More than 150,000
people lost their lives.

Kanto earthquake, Japan, Sept. 1, 1923

The Kanto quake was the deadliest in Japan's history. 142,000 people were killed in the 7.9-
magnitute earthquake, which brought extreme destruction to the Tokyo-Yokohama area. More
than 380 houses burned after the earthquake as well.

Ashgabat earthquake, Turkmenistan, Oct. 5, 1948

More than 110,000 people were killed in the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that took place on
October 5, 1948 in Ashgabat, the present capital of Turkmenistan.

Philippines
We all know that the Philippines is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is the reason why
our country is prone to seismic and volcanic activity.
Now, the country is preparing for “The Big One”, a magnitude 7.2 magnitude earthquake from the
West Valley Fault which is expected to hit Metro Manila and Quezon City. Thus, the Office of Civil
Defense (OCD) in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other government
agencies has been conducting series of earthquake drills. This is to prepare the people for the
estimated impacts projected in the 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study
(MMEIRS). According to MMEIRS, “The Big One” could destroy about 40% of residential buildings
and damage 35 percent of public buildings. It could also result to 34,000 casualties, 114,000
individuals will be seriously injured, and the possible fire incidents that would follow could add
another 18,000 deaths. With the drills and information campaigns conducted, the authorities are
hoping that those numbers would be lessened.

Actually, there had been many stronger earthquakes which hit the Philippines since 1600s but they
caused lesser damage to properties. Casualties were also fewer because the cities then weren’t so
densely populated unlike today. And as we know, Manila is the most densely populated city in the
Philippines, if a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits, there would surely be thousands of casualties and
billions of damages on properties and infrastructures.

The following are top 10 strongest earthquakes in the Philippines that caused major destructions and
casualties:

1. Magnitude 8.0 earthquake in Mindanao (August 17, 1976)

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake took place near Mindanao and Sulu a little past midnight of August 17,
1976 that was felt as far as Visayas. It was then followed by a massive 4 to 5 meters high tsunami
covering 700 kilometers of coastline bordering the island. Because it was dark, the people were
caught by the raging water which claimed 8,000 lives, injuring 10,000, and leaving 90,000 more,
homeless.

2. Magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Northern and Central Luzon (July 16, 1990)

A total of 2,412 people died and at least ₱10-billion worth of damages to public and private
properties was reported after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Northern and Central Luzon at
around 4:00 p.m. of July 16, 1990.

Hyatt Terraces Plaza, Nevada Hotel, Baguio Hilltop Hotel, Baguio Park Hotel, and FRB Hotel, all in
Baguio collapsed trapping and burying people alive.

Although the epicenter was recorded in Nueva Ecija, it caused more damage in the City of Pines.
And the quake that just lasted for about a minute was one of the tragedies in the country that would
never be forgotten.

3. Magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Luzon (November 30, 1645)

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake that crushed Luzon on November 30, 1645 at about 8:00 pm was
called the “most terrible earthquake” in Philippines history. The Epicenter of the said quake was in
Nueva Ecija caused by the San Manuel and Gabaldon Faults.

The extent of the tremor was felt as far as Cagayan Valley. It has caused many landslides which
buried many people alive and destroyed many buildings and churches including Manila Cathedral.

That time, only Spanish are counted so the recorded number of casualties was only 600 while the
injured was 3,000.

4. Magnitude 7.3 earthquake in Casiguran (August 2, 1968)

Most of the people in Casiguran, Aurora was still fast asleep when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake
struck at 4:19 a.m. of August 2, 1968.

It was another deadly and shocking seismic activity in the country. And the City of Manila got the
most severe damage. Many buildings were either damaged or destroyed totally.

The said event was also called the Ruby Tower earthquake after the said six-story building located
in Binondo collapsed, and caused the death of 260 people. A total of 268 people died that day and
261 more were injured.

5. Magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol (October 15, 2013)

I can still remember how people panicked in the morning of October 15, 2013. It was around 8:12
a.m. when a strong earthquake was felt here in Tacloban City. Only to find out after the lights came
back that what we have experienced was nothing compared to the damage it caused in Bohol which
was the epicenter of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake.

The quake affected most of Central Visayas, particularly Bohol and Cebu. It was felt in the whole
area of Visayas and reached as far as Masbate Island in the north and Cotabato in Southern
Mindanao.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of
222 people died, 8 went missing and 976 others were injured. An estimated 73,000 structures were
damaged wherein more than 14,500 of which were destroyed totally.

6. Magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Mindoro (November 15, 1994)

November 15, 1994, at around 3:15 a.m., a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked Mindoro. A gigantic
8.5 meters (28 ft) tsunami then followed which devastated the islands of Baco and Calapan,
Mindoro.
A total of 7,566 houses were washed out and some 78 people died because of that tragedy.

7. Magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Central Visayas (February 6, 2012)

A total of 51 people died, 62 still missing and 112 were injured when a 6.9 earthquake Central
Visayas, particularly Negros and parts of Mindanao on February 6, 2012.

It caused a landslide which buried a barangay, damaged 15,483 houses, and a total damage of
₱383-million on infrastructures and buildings was recorded.

8. Magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Central and Southern Mindanao (March 5, 2002)

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake resulted to the death of 15 people and injuring around a hundred more
in Central and Southern Mindanao on March 5, 2002.

The said quake originated near the Cotabato Trench that was followed by a tsunami. But it was the
flood that was generated by landslides and falling debris that caused damage to an estimated 800
buildings.

9. Magnitude 6.5 quake in Ilocos Norte (August 17, 1983)

The magnitude 6.5 quake in Ilocos Norte on August 17, 1983 happened around 8:18 p.m. and
resulted to 16 casualties and 47 people got injured.

It caused damages on various establishments such as schools, buildings, malls, residences, and
etc. There were also landslides and sand boils that followed the event.

10. Magnitude 7.6 earthquake happened near Guiuan, Eastern Samar (August 31, 2012)

A very strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 happened near Guiuan, Eastern Samar on August
31, 2012 that was felt as far as Mindanao.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a tsunami warning
Level 3, but it was lifted 5 hours later.

The quake caused damage on homes, bridges, and other infrastructures. There were also power
interruptions in the affected areas. But despite the intensity only one person was reported dead and
one injured because of the landslide in Cagayan de Oro City.

The bad thing about an earthquake is that we cannot prevent it and we cannot predict it. We do not
know when exactly it would happen. Because of that, it would be better for us to be prepared at all
times. Participate in Earthquake drills conducted by authorities, keep an emergency kit in the house,
don’t panic when it happens and most importantly don’t forget to pray.

http://faq.ph/top-10-strongest-earthquakes-to-hit-the-philippines/

Ring of fire

The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where
many earthquakesand volcanic eruptions occur. In a large 40,000 km (25,000 mi) horseshoe
shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs,
and volcanic belts and plate movements. It has 452 volcanoes (more than 75% of the world's
active and dormant volcanoes).[1] The Ring of Fire is sometimes called the circum-Pacific belt.
About 90%[2] of the world's earthquakes and 81%[3] of the world's largest earthquakes occur
along the Ring of Fire.[4][5] All but three of the world's 25 largest volcanic eruptions of the last
11,700 years occurred at volcanoes in the Ring of Fire.[6] The Ring of Fire is a direct result
of plate tectonics: the movement and collisions of lithospheric plates,[7] especially subduction in
the northern portion. The southern portion is more complex, with a number of smaller tectonic
plates in collision with the Pacific plate from the Mariana Islands,
the Philippines, Bougainville, Tonga, and New Zealand.

(CNN)The world's most active volcanoes lie along what's called the Ring of Fire.

It's also where most earthquakes happen as tectonic plates push against each other, causing
tremors.

The "ring" stretches along a 25,000-mile (40,000-kilometer) arc from the boundary of the Pacific
Plate, to smaller plates such as the Philippine Sea plate, to the Cocos and Nazca Plates that
line the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

People most at risk from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes live in countries that lie along the
Ring of Fire, including Chile, Japan, the US west coast, and other island nations including the
Solomon Islands to the western seaboard of North and South Americas.

How did the Ring of Fire form?

Tectonic plates are massive slabs of the Earth's crust. These move constantly above the mantle
-- a layer of solid and molten rock below the Earth's crust.

The Ring of Fire was formed as oceanic plates slid under continental plates.

Volcanoes along the Ring of Fire are formed when one plate is shoved under another into the
mantle -- a solid body of rock between the Earth's crust and the molten iron core -- through a
process called subduction.

Large earthquakes -- which risk triggering tsunamis -- also occur in subduction zones.
How are volcanoes formed?
Volcanoes are created when magma, or hot molten rock, rises through cracks in the Earth's
crust, causing pressure to build up.

When tectonic plates are pulled or pushed together, the pressure releases, making the magma
erupt in the form of ash and or lava. Once the lava cools it forms a new crust.

Volcanoes slowly form over time as layers of crust build up after several eruptions.

At least 450 active and dormant volcanoes line the Ring of Fire.

How are earthquakes triggered?

Earthquakes represent the energy release from the interior of the Earth, where huge amount of
heat is stored.

The heat drives the plates to move. When two plates move against one another and produce
friction, it causes energy to build up. When the energy is released it triggers an earthquake.

"It takes tens of thousands of years for the energy to build up, but only a matter of seconds for it
to be released," said Hongfeng Yang, a seismologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Tectonic plates usually move an average of a few centimeters each year, but when an
earthquake strikes, they can move several meters per second.

Can earthquakes be predicted along the Ring of

Fire?
Seismologists can't yet predict when or where earthquakes will strike, or how large they will be.

Some researchers argue that there are certain conditions -- such as hydraulic fracturing when
we drill deep into the sea to extract energy resources -- induce earthquakes. But there's no hard
scientific evidence to back this up.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/09/08/world/ring-of-fire-explainer/index.html
Elements of Seismology

Earthquake Faults

Earthquakes: fault lines

Earthquakes can also occur far from the edges of tectonic plates, along faults. Faults are cracks in the
lithosphere caused by the stresses created as sections of a plate (or two plates) are moving in different
directions. In this case, the earthquake event is called a slip. There are a number of different types of
faults, but most can be divided into three categories: strike-slip faults, normal faults, and thrust faults.

Image: Fault types

Strike-slip fault
A strike slip fault occurs in an area where two plates are sliding past each other. In relation to the
ground surface the slip involves sideway movement. Strike-slip faults are found in California, the San
Andreas fault being the most famous which has caused many powerful earthquakes.

Normal faults
Normal faults cracks where one mass of rock slides downward and pulls away from another mass of
rock. As these plates are slowly splitting apart and pulling away from each other the normal faults are
formed in this way. Normal faults are associated with downward movement on a sloping fault as the two
plates move apart. The stretching of the Earth's crust is indicative of this type of event. Deep sea ridges
in the Atlantic and Pacific are where the largest normal faults are formed along these ridges. Thrust
faults are caused by plates pulling apart and colliding with continental plates.
Reverse or Thrust faults
A thrust fault happens when plates are being pushed together. This involves upward movement as the
two plates collide and buckle upwards. This kind of event signifies a compression of the Earth's crust.

Earthquake Focus
The focus of an earthquake is where pressure builds along a fault line which fails deep underneath the
crust of the Earth. The point directly above the focus is termed the epicenter.

https://www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/pages/fault-lines#.XATBwjnQE0M

Theory of plate tectonics

What Is Plate Tectonics

From the deepest ocean trench to the tallest mountain, plate tectonics explains the features and
movement of Earth's surface in the present and the past.
Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the
mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell compared
to Earth's mantle. This strong outer layer is called the lithosphere, which is 100 km (60
miles) thick, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The lithosphere includes the crust
and outer part of the mantle. Below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere, which is malleable or
partially malleable, allowing the lithosphere to move around. How it moves around is an evolving
idea.
History
Developed from the 1950s through the 1970s, plate tectonics is the modern version of continental
drift, a theory first proposed by scientist Alfred Wegener in 1912. Wegener didn't have an
explanation for how continents could move around the planet, but researchers do now. Plate
tectonics is the unifying theory of geology, said Nicholas van der Elst, a seismologist at Columbia
University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York.

"Before plate tectonics, people had to come up with explanations of the geologic features in their
region that were unique to that particular region," Van der Elst said. "Plate tectonics unified all
these descriptions and said that you should be able to describe all geologic features as though
driven by the relative motion of these tectonic plates."

How many plates are there?

There are nine major plates, according to World Atlas. These plates are named after the landforms
found on them. The nine major plates are North American, Pacific, Eurasian, African, Indo-
Australian, Australian, Indian, South American and Antarctic.
The largest plate is the Pacific Plate at 39,768,522 square miles (103,000,000 square kilometers).
Most of it is located under the ocean. It is moving northwest at a speed of around 2.75 inches (7
cm) per year.

There are also many smaller plates throughout the world.

How plate tectonics works

The driving force behind plate tectonics is convection in the mantle. Hot material near the Earth's
core rises, and colder mantle rock sinks. "It's kind of like a pot boiling on a stove," Van der Elst said.
The convection drive plates tectonics through a combination of pushing and spreading apart
at mid-ocean ridges and pulling and sinking downward at subduction zones, researchers think.
Scientists continue to study and debate the mechanisms that move the plates.

Mid-ocean ridges are gaps between tectonic plates that mantle the Earth like seams on a baseball.
Hot magma wells up at the ridges, forming new ocean crust and shoving the plates apart.
At subduction zones, two tectonic plates meet and one slides beneath the other back into
the mantle, the layer underneath the crust. The cold, sinking plate pulls the crust behind it
downward.

Plate boundaries

Subduction zones, or convergent margins, are one of the three types of plate boundaries. The others
are divergent and transform margins.

At a divergent margin, two plates are spreading apart, as at seafloor-spreading ridges or continental
rift zones such as the East Africa Rift.
https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/amp.livescience.com/37706-what-is-plate-tectonics.html

EARTHQUAKE RECORDS AND MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

SEISMOGRAM - a record written by a seismometer in response to ground motions

produced by an earthquake, explosion, or other ground-motion sources.

MEASURING INSTRUMENTS :

• SEISMOMETER

• SEISMOGRAPH

• ACCELEROGRAPH

• SEISMOSCOPE

SEISMOMETER -are instruments that measure motions of the ground, including

those of seismic waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and
other seismic sources

SEISMOGRAPH -An instrument that measures seismic waves caused by an

earthquake. Generally, it consists of a mass attached to a fixed base. During
an earthquake, the base moves and the mass does not. The motion of the base
with respect to the mass is commonly transformed into an electrical voltage.
The electrical voltage is recorded on paper, magnetic tape, or another
recording medium. This record is proportional to the motion of the
seismometer mass relative to the earth, but it can be mathematically
converted to a record of the absolute motion of the ground.

THREE MAIN DEVICES OF SEISMOGRAPH

• Richter Magnitude Scale - A mathematical formula used to measure the

magnitude of an earthquake

• Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale- a seismic scale used for measuring

the intensity of an earthquake

• Moment-Magnitude Scale - Used by seismologists to measure the size

of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. It is based on the
amount of displacement that occurred along a fault zone rather than the
measurement of ground motion at a given point. To record motion in all
directions, three seismographs are required. One seismograph is needed
to measure vertical motion, and two to record horizontal motion. The
two seismographs recording horizontal directions, record in 90-degree
angles

Richter
earthquake effects
magnitude
less than
Generally not felt, but recorded.
3.5
 Often felt, but rarely causes
3.5-5.4
damage.
At most slight damage to well-
designed buildings. Can cause major
Under 6.0
damage to poorly constructed
buildings over small regions.
Can be destructive in areas up to
6.1-6.9 about 100 kilometers across where
people live.
Major earthquake. Can cause serious
7.0-7.9
damage over larger areas.
Great earthquake. Can cause serious
8 or
damage in areas several hundred
greater
kilometers across.

Accelerograph - refers to an instrument used for recording acceleration of

the ground during an earthquake. It is used to monitor structures for
earthquake response. It is commonly called accelerometer.

Difference between Accelerograph and Seismograph:

accelerograph records ground acceleration while seismograph records ground
motion.

Accelerogram-graphic record in chart form, produced by an accelerograph in

response to seismic ground motions.

Accelerograph maintenance

it is essential that the instrument be well protected from such environmental

conditions as flooding or excessive summer temperatures and from tampering or
vandalism.

Accelerograph Installation

The accelerograph should be firmly bolted to concrete foundation. The

accelerograph which is order of 20 x 20 x40 cm in size, often can be
conveniently installed in the corner of small structure, such as an office,
instrument room, or storage room.

3. SEISMOSCOPE
- an instrument that gives a qualitative measure of the oscillatory motion
produced by an earthquake or other disturbance of the earth's surface. Unlike
the seismograph, it lacks a device to calibrate the time.

History of Seismoscope

In 132 A.D., a Chinese inventor called Zhang Heng displayed his amazing
earthquake-detection machine, or seismoscope, at the court of the Han
 Dynasty. Zhang's seismoscope was a giant bronze vessel, resembling a samovar
almost 6 feet in diameter. Eight dragons snaked face-down along the outside
of the barrel, marking the primary compass directions. In each dragon's mouth
was a small bronze ball. Beneath the dragons sat eight bronze toads, with
their broad mouths gaping to receive the balls.

How it works?

The instrument was said to resemble a wine jar of diameter six

feet . On the outside of the vessel there were eight dragon-heads, facing the
eight principal directions of the compass. Below each of the dragon-heads was
a toad, with its mouth opened toward the dragon. The mouth of each dragon
held a ball. At the occurrence of an earthquake, one of the eight dragon-
mouths would release a ball into the open mouth of the toad situated below.
The direction of the shaking determined which of the dragons released its
ball. The instrument is reported to have detected a four-hundred-mile distant
earthquake which was not felt at the location of the seismoscope.
The exact mechanism that caused a ball to drop in the event of an
earthquake is not known. One theory is that a thin stick was set loosely down
the center of the barrel. An earthquake would cause the stick to topple over
in the direction of the seismic shock, triggering one of the dragons to open
its mouth and release the bronze ball. The sound of the ball striking the
toad's mouth would alert observers to the earthquake. This would give a rough
indication of the earthquake's direction of origin, but it did not provide
any information about the intensity of the tremors.
4. EARTHQUAKE NETWORK (SEISMIC NETWORK)

Seismic Network is a new earthquake monitoring system based on a dense

array of low-cost acceleration sensors.

It is responsible for the operational guidance and management of the

national seismic network, short-term earthquake prediction, earthquake data
collection, report processing, scientific journal management, seismological
construction, technological research and operations for emergency response .

A primary goal of the system is to produce block-by-block measurements

of strong shaking during an earthquake. Such "shake maps" can then be used
by first responder agencies (e.g., fire department, utilities) to prioritize
dispatch to areas of greatest likely damage. Effective emergency response
can occur despite damaged telephone services that prevent civilian calls for
help from succeeding.

PHIVOLCS Seismic Monitoring Network

The Philippines has a total of 65 seismic stations, 29 of which are

manned, 30 are unmanned, and 6 volcano stations. The central operating station
is located at PHIVOLCS Main Office, Diliman, Quezon City. All information is
received at the Data Receiving Center (DRC), which is operated 24/7 by the
Seismological Observation and Prediction Division (SOEPD).
https://www.scribd.com/document/198973513/Earthquake-Records-and-Measuring-Instruments

Propagation of earthquake disturbances