seismograph

Definition

An instrument that detects, records, and measures the intensity and duration of earthquakes and other seismic vibrations in the Earth's crust. Modern seismographs use sensitive sensors to convert ground motion into electronic signals that are processed and displayed graphically.

Example Usage

The research station installed a new seismograph network to better monitor tectonic activity in the region.

Origin

From Greek seismos (earthquake) + -graph (recording instrument).

Fun Fact

The earliest seismographs were invented in ancient China around 132 CE by Zhang Heng; modern digital seismographs can detect earthquakes thousands of miles away.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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