A seismogram is a record of ground motion made on a special device in automatic mode. The pendulum of a seismograph is sensitive to vibrations in the ground, and its movements are recorded as zigzag waves. Seismologists use these to determine the magnitude and epicenter of an earthquake. The seismogram in the exhibition of the Museum of the History of Obninsk was taken at the time of the earthquake in New Guinea and was recorded at the Central Geophysical Observatory in Obninsk.
The order to set up the Central Geophysical Observatory in Obninsk was issued in 1963. During a geological survey, a mass of marble limestone was discovered on the outskirts of the town, which could protect seismic instruments from noise, vibration, sharp fluctuations in temperature and atmospheric pressure. Next to it, a mine adit was drilled to a depth of 30 meters and a 100 meters’ gallery was built toward the Earth’s meridian, with lateral branches. Inside the gallery, 18 chambers were installed with seismographs on concrete pedestals to continuously record elastic waves. From the mine gallery, the information was fed into a pavilion on the surface for further processing.
The seismograph has a weight with a spring attachment that remains motionless during an earthquake. The body and support of the instrument come into motion and shift relative to the weight. Some seismographs are sensitive to horizontal movements, others — to vertical movements. The waves are recorded by a vibrating pen on a paper tape. There are also electronic seismographs without a paper tape.
The Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences was established in 1994 with over 300 seismic stations and 10 data collection and processing centers. This is the center of the Emergency Reporting Service at the national level. Its tasks include locating sources of strong earthquakes and alerting the government. Seismic monitoring of Russia and the entire globe is carried out continuously. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia receives information on earthquake magnitude and organizes necessary rescue work. Another basic area of work of the GS RAS is the monitoring of nuclear tests.
The order to set up the Central Geophysical Observatory in Obninsk was issued in 1963. During a geological survey, a mass of marble limestone was discovered on the outskirts of the town, which could protect seismic instruments from noise, vibration, sharp fluctuations in temperature and atmospheric pressure. Next to it, a mine adit was drilled to a depth of 30 meters and a 100 meters’ gallery was built toward the Earth’s meridian, with lateral branches. Inside the gallery, 18 chambers were installed with seismographs on concrete pedestals to continuously record elastic waves. From the mine gallery, the information was fed into a pavilion on the surface for further processing.
The seismograph has a weight with a spring attachment that remains motionless during an earthquake. The body and support of the instrument come into motion and shift relative to the weight. Some seismographs are sensitive to horizontal movements, others — to vertical movements. The waves are recorded by a vibrating pen on a paper tape. There are also electronic seismographs without a paper tape.
The Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences was established in 1994 with over 300 seismic stations and 10 data collection and processing centers. This is the center of the Emergency Reporting Service at the national level. Its tasks include locating sources of strong earthquakes and alerting the government. Seismic monitoring of Russia and the entire globe is carried out continuously. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia receives information on earthquake magnitude and organizes necessary rescue work. Another basic area of work of the GS RAS is the monitoring of nuclear tests.
