With evidence so abundant, a new method of drawing coseismal lines
becomes possible. According to this method, each place of observation
is indicated on the map by a mark corresponding to the particular
minute recorded. If the records were quite correct, there would be a
central area occupied by the marks corresponding to 5.32 A.M.,
surrounded by a series of zones in which the times were respectively
5.33, 5.34, and 5.35. The curves separating these zones would be
coseismal lines corresponding to the times 5.32-1/2, 5.33-1/2, and
5.34-1/2.
Owing, however, to the inevitable inaccuracy of all the time-records,
these different zones intrude on one another, and the coseismal lines
have therefore to be drawn about half-way through the overlapping
regions, special weight being attributed to the apparently more
accurate observations.
[Illustration: FIG. 62.--Coseismal lines of the Hereford
earthquake. (_Davison._)]
The coseismal lines obtained in this manner are represented by the
continuous curves in Fig. 62. The isoseismals, which are added for the
sake of comparison, are indicated by the dotted lines. It will be seen
that the coseismal lines are elongated in the same direction as the
isoseismals, but to a less extent, and this no doubt is due to the
fact that the epoch selected by the majority of observers was one not
far from, and slightly preceding, that of the maximum intensity of
the shock.
Now, the average distance between the two inner coseismals is 32-3/4
miles, between the two outer ones (so far as drawn) 35-1/6 miles, and
between the first and third 67-1/6 miles. The mean surface-velocity
between the two inner coseismals is therefore 2,882 feet per second,
and between the two outer ones 3,095 feet per second. There is thus an
apparent increase in the velocity with the distance, but the accuracy
of the coseismal lines is unequal to establishing this as a fact. The
mean surface-velocity of 2,955 feet per second between the first and
third coseismals is probably, however, the most accurate estimate of
the surface-velocity yet made in a slight earthquake.
SOUND-PHENOMENA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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