Average error determination in the calculation of earthquake epicenter coordinates

Abstract

Objective. The study is aimed at determining the dependence of the average error in calculating the epicenter coordinates of an earthquake on errors in measuring the velocities of seismic waves for various methods of seismic event localization. Error distribution investigation for the method for determining the earthquake hypocenter coordinates using the Cassinian oval. Methods. The problem was solved using statistical methods: methods of frequency and regression analyzes, means comparison method, and uniform search method. Results. A relationship between the accuracy of measuring the velocities of seismic waves when determining the coordinates of an earthquake epicenter were established for four different earthquake hypocenter coordinates calculation methods. A method for determining the earthquake hypocenter coordinates using the fourth-order figure of the Cassinian oval was proposed. The error distribution density of the Cassinian oval method was compared with the ones of other methods. Conclusion. The results obtained make it possible to choose one or another method for calculating the hypocenter coordinates depending on the specific area in which a seismic event occurred and the locations of seismic sensors.

Keywords

• seismology
• seismic sensor
• seismic wave
• velocity
• error distribution
• earth structure