SeismoArchives

Historical Information

The following papers and reports provide useful information on historical development of seismology, especially with respect to seismographs and stations.  Some of these files have been published in the attached CDs of the "International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology",
edited by W.H.K. Lee, H. Kanamori, P.C. Jennings, and C. Kisslinger, Academic Press, San Diego. Readers are referred to the two printed volumes (Part A., 2002, and Part B, 2003) for more details.

British Association for the Advancement of Science -- Seismological Investigations (1886-1955)
The British Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in 1831. The Committee on Seismological Investigation began writing reports in 1896 under the leadership of John Milne. The early reports contain valuable information on instrument development and earthquakes.

Ehlert1898.pdf: An extensive  review of operational seismographs at the end of 1890s.  This file contains Ehlert, R. (1898a). Zusammenstellung, Erläuterung und kritische Beurtheilung der wichtigsten Seismometer mit besonderer Berücksichtigung ihrer praktischen Verwendbarkeit. Beiträge zur Geophysik 3, 350-475, and Ehlert, R. (1898b). Das dreifache Horizontalpendel. Beiträge zur Geophysik 3, 481-494.

Schweitzer2003.pdf: This file contains "Early German contributions to modern seismology", which is Part A of the German National Report, written by J. Schweitzer (published in Chapter 79.24 of the International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology).

Udias2002.pdf: This file contains "The Jesuit contribution to seismology" written by A. Udias and W. Stauder (published in Chapter 3 of the International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology).

Utsu2003.pdf: This file contains "Historical development of seismology in Japan", which is Part 2 of the Centennial Report of Japan, written by T. Utsu (published in Chapter 79.33 of the International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology).

(Last Updated: August 21, 2004)