History of Seismographs, Earthquake Gauges

At the time of the earthquake, researchers could use a Seismograph to measure how much earthquake shaking. Seismograph can also be relied upon to determine the location of the point of the earthquake.

Taken from various sources, Seismograph was first discovered by researchers from China in the Han Dynasty called Zhang Heng. Wikipedia explains, prototype earthquake detector tool was introduced precisely at 132 BC.

With this tool, people at that time were able to determine where the direction of earthquakes occurred. As the times progress, seismographs or seismometers are enhanced, so they can record vibrations within a sufficiently wide range of frequencies.

In principle, the seismograph has ballast hangers and a pointed tip like a pencil. That way, we can know the strength and direction of the earthquake through the Earth movement picture recorded in the form of seismogram.

After the emergence of an early-generation seismograph, then a few centuries later, an Italian scientist made a seismograph from mercury with a U-shaped tube. Not long ago, British scientists created a new, more modern seismograph.

British scientist John Milne, who supports the formation of earthquake observers station (seismological station). The first modern seismograph was developed again in America, becoming a seismograph used up to the present day.

Seismographs have sensitive instruments capable of detecting seismic waves generated by earthquakes. The seismic waves detected in the earthquake are illustrated as wavy lines on the seismogram.

When the seismograph was only able to detect horizontal movement, but now the seismograph can already record the vertical and lateral movement. Seismographs use two mechanical and electromagnetic seismographer motions.

Both types of mechanical motion can detect both vertical motion and horizontal movement depending on the pendular used whether vertical or horizontal.