Seismology

Abstract

Several factors have combined to accelerate experimental and theoretical advances in the science of seismology over the past few years and al the same time have widened its scope. The need for increased capability in the detection of underground nuclear tests and the interest in planetary exploration have stimulated the development of sensitive, rugged seismometers and new concepts of detecting and recording seismic signals. The great Chilean earthquakes of 1960 set the whole earth into vibration and generated a massive computational effort, out of which grew the new science of seismic spectroscopy. Analysis of records of ground vibration to determine the period of free vibrations of the earth and theoretical studies to explain these observations were possible only because of the new generation of high-speed digital computers. Digital computers have also been applied with great success to the problems of earthquake mechanisms and the structure of the earth's deep interior, as well as to routine calculations such as epicenter location.