Seismology Timeline

  • Robert Mallet

    Robert Mallet
    Robert Mallet is considered to be the first major contributor to modern seismology. His contributions include determining that earthquakes create waves that radiate from their center and that earthquakes can be located using those waves.
  • First Timing Seismograph

    First Timing Seismograph
    Filippo Cecchi created the first seismograph that measured the time of the wave. This work was later replicated around the world. In the early days, these machines became relatively useless after several earthquakes.
  • First NA Seismograph

    First NA Seismograph
    The first seismograph in North America was put in Link Observatory, California, shown here in modern times. It later recorded the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake.
  • First Damped Seismograph

    First Damped Seismograph
    Emil Wiechert created the first damped seismograph. This allowed the seismographs to record accurate data for the entirety of the shaking of an earthquake.
  • S- and P-Waves

    S- and P-Waves
    Among the contributions of Ricard Dixon Oldham are S- and P-waves. He is credited with the discovery of these crucial concepts in seismology.
  • Theory of Elastic Rebound

    Theory of Elastic Rebound
    Harry Fielding Reid created the thoery of elastic rebound after analyzing data from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The theory serves to explain how energy is spread during earthquakes. It is considered to be the first satisfactory explanation for earthquakes, and also related faults to earthquakes.
  • Accurate Measure of Earth's Core's Depth

    Accurate Measure of Earth's Core's Depth
    Beno Gutenberg was able to accurately estimate Earth's core's depth at roughly 2,700 km. He later worked with Richter in the development of the Richter Scale.
  • Richter Scale Created

    Richter Scale Created
    The Richter Scale was created by Charles Richter, along with Beno Gutenberg. It is a scale created to quantify the energy released by an earthquake. The scale operates with a 1-10 system, with a one being the least energy and a ten being the most.
  • Inner Core Solidity

    Inner Core Solidity
    Based on seismic wave data, Lehmann determined that the Earth has a solid inner core and a molten outer core.. His work was later trialed and accepted by other scientists.
  • First Digital Global Seismographs

    First Digital Global Seismographs
    During the 1970s, the first digital seismographs were installed globally. They are still in use today and continue to expand their usage.
  • Moment Magnitude Scale

    Moment Magnitude Scale
    Seismologists Thomas C. Hanks and Hiroo Kanamori developed a scale known as the moment magnitude scale. It has replaced the Richter Scale, as it is more accurate. However, the scale is still often referred to by the name "Richter Scale," despite the improvements brought about in the new scale.
  • Sources

    Main Source Wikipedia for pictures