Jesuit Seismological Association Research Articles

Jesuits' studies of earthquakes and seismological stations

Abstract The Jesuits' dedication to seismology forms one of their most important scientific contributions. Its history can be divided into two periods. In the first, from the 16th to the 18th century, they studied single earthquakes, some in the newly discovered lands of America, and speculated on the causes of these phenomena. In the second period, beginning in the 19th century, Jesuits established a large number of seismographic stations throughout the world. In North America they founded in 1909 the Jesuit Seismological Association, which ran the first seismographic network of continental scale with uniform instrumentation. Jesuit seismographic stations in Africa, Asia and South America were, in many instances, the first installed and, in some cases, were for years the only ones there. Jesuit seismologists have made important contributions to a variety of aspects of this science. Among them J. B. Macelwane is widely recognized as an important figure in the history of seismology.

The Status of the Jesuit Seismological Association in 1957

Research Article| March 01, 1957 The Status of the Jesuit Seismological Association in 1957 J. J. Lynch, S. J. J. J. Lynch, S. J. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information J. J. Lynch, S. J. Publisher: Seismological Society of America First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1938-2057 Print Issn: 0895-0695 © 1957 by the Seismological Society of America Seismological Research Letters (1957) 28 (1): 6–8. https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.28.1.6 Article history First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J. J. Lynch; The Status of the Jesuit Seismological Association in 1957. Seismological Research Letters 1957;; 28 (1): 6–8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/gssrl.28.1.6 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for 1949

The stations at Weston, Fordham, Georgetown, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Milwaukee Chicago, Saint Louis, Florissant, Spring Hill, New Orleans, Denver, Santa Clara, and Spokane were in continuous operation during the year.The new Sprengnether equipment at the University of San Francisco had not begun routine operation in 1949. The stations at Little Rock and Cape Girardeau resumed operations only in the Fall. New electromagnetic equipment was designed and built by Victor C. Stechschulte, at Xavier University, Cincinnati, and is giving good satisfaction. The station at Fordham University has been expanded to include tripartite installations for the study of two‐second microseisms under a contract with ONR. Highly specialized electronic equipment is being used at the Florissant Station of St. Louis University for the study of half‐second microseisms under an ONR contract.

Progress report of the Jesuit Seismological Association

In the course of the year 1948, 14 member stations of the Jesuit Seismological Association were in operation and at the University of San Francisco a fifteenth was constructed to be put into operation in 1949.The station at Weston College was formally adopted as the Seismological Department of Boston College. Substantial progress was made on the new seismological building at Weston which will house, when completed, the six Benioff components and other earthquake station apparatus, and in addition the seismic prospecting equipment and the offices and shops. A new reflection prospecting truck was built by Daniel Linehan and his associates and equipped with a new Century recording unit and other new facilities. Many overburden and water supply studies were made by Linehan, especially for governmental, state and municipal agencies.

Earthquakes during March

AT least eleven strong earthquakes occurred in the world during March. The greatest, and also the ed on March 4 from a focus having near lat. 36-5° N., long. 70-5° E., in the ush, Afghanistan. The depth of focus was probably rather greater than 200 km. and the strength 7½ on the instrumental scale. Owing to its strength and depth, the shock was felt over a wide area in Afghanistan and the North -West Frontier Province, Pakistan, and although the full extent of the damage is not yet assessed, the earthquake is known to have damaged the Roman Catholic cathedral in Lahore. The next most intense (scale c. 7) was probably that occurring on March 27 from a focus having an epicentre in the Celebes Sea off the southern coast of Cape Mindanoa. Strong shocks on March 16 and 17 had their epicentres in the region of the Bismarck Archipelago. On March 9 an earthquake with strength 5½ and epicentre near lat. 37–1° S., long. 121-3° W., in central California set off burglar alarms and rolled stones off Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, but did no serious damage. At Hollister some windows and plaster were cracked, and small objects were shaken off shelves. Of the small shocks during the month, three may be mentioned. On March 7 an earthquake was felt with strength 3–4 on the Modified Mercalli scale in the south-west Alps near Messtetten. It had a depth of focus, according to Dr. W. Hiller, of Stuttgart, of less than 5 km. On March 11 a strong tremor shook the area around Dalton, New South Wales, Australia, and cracked buildings there, causing damage estimated at £2,000. The shock was felt in Sydney and Canberra. On March 22 an earthquake was felt in the Departement des Basses-Alpes, France, doing some damage at Lauzet. Instrumental readings for the month have been received from the central stations of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association ; the Central Seismo-logical Bureau at Strasbourg ; and individual observatories at De Bilt (Netherlands), Durham, Stuttgart and Toledo.

Progress report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for the year 1947

The year 1947 marked a gradual return to normal conditions throughout the scientific world; particularly in the United States was this noticeable.The member stations of the Jesuit Seismological Association whose activities had been largely disrupted by the War not only resumed their normal operations but were taking steps to improve.

Earthquakes during March and April, 1948

THERE were at least nineteen strong earthquakes in the world during March, and at least seven during April. The strongest shock during March was probably that of March 3 from an epicentre near lat. 18° N., long. 119° E. off the north-west coast of Luzon, Philippine Islands. It gave ground amplitudes of 160 µ at Kew. The second strongest was on March 1, from an epicentre near lat. 3° S., long. 130-5° E., off the west coast of New Guinea. This gave ground amplitudes of 80 µ at Kew. The deepest shock during March occurred on March 23 from an epicentre near lat. 51° N., long. 155° E., off the southern coast of Kamchatka. The depth of focus was between 200 and 250 km. The only great shock on land was on March 27, when a severe earthquake shook the city of Sucre in Bolivia, causing considerable damage to property, including the cathedral, plunging the city into darkness and cutting off communications with the rest of Bolivia ; only three casualties have been reported. An earth tremor on March 16 was felt at Lourdes, Argeles and Bagnères ; but no damage is reported. There were no great earthquakes on land during April. The greatest earthquake during April was that on April 21 from an epicentre near lat. 19° N., long. 69·5° W., off the north-east coast of the Dominican Republic, and the deepest (200 km.) was on April 12 from an epicentre near lat. 14° N., long. 90-5° W., off the coast of Guatemala. Reports for these months have been received from the International Bureau at Strasbourg, the Jesuit Seismological Association, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and the following individual observatories : Cleveland (Ohio), Beograd, De Bilt, Durham, Kew, Stuttgart, Toledo, Uccle, Zurich and the Swiss stations.

Earthquakes During July–August, 1947

TWELVE large earthquakes and a score of smaller ones Were recorded by the world‘s seismographs during July, and nine large shocks with numerous smaller ones during August. Provisional epicentres for the large earthquakes have been determined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association.

Progress report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for the Years 1945 and 1946

The years 1945 and 1946, including as they do the transition from wartime restriction to peacetime freedom, deserve more than usual attention.During the war years the tripartite arrangement between Science Service, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and Geodetic Survey, and the Jesuit Seismological Association was maintained; but the sources of information were so diminished in number and the personnel and facilities were so greatly curtailed that epicenters of earthquakes publicly announced were necessarily fewer in number and the information contained in the Preliminary Bulletin of the Central Station at Saint Louis was much less extensive.

Recent Earthquakes

DURING September, nineteen strong earthquakes were registered by the observatories in Switzerland. The earthquake of September 10 had its epicentre near V. Camonica in the Italian Alps ; that of September 12 in the Shansi province of China, and those of September 29 and 30 in the Solomon Islands and Peru respectively. During October, fifteen strong earthquakes were registered in Switzerland. That of October 23 occurred in the Karnische Alps near Trieste, and that of October 30 in the Aleutian Islands. During the first half of November, there were six strong earthquakes in various parts of the globe. That of November 1 occurred in the Aleutian Islands and that of November 2 was destructive in the Uzbeck and Kirghiz districts of the U.S.S.R. The earthquake of November 3 had its epicentre approximately on the equator at long. 17° W., whereas that of November 4 had its epicentre near lat. 40° W,, long. 53-5°E. near the Caspian Sea. Epicentres of the above earthquakes in November have been obtained, using instrumental reports from observatories, by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association, as well as by the International Seismological Office at Strasbourg. The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey has also determined the epicentres of the earthquakes of November 10 and 12. The former was destructive near Sihuas, about 225 miles north of Lima in Peru, and the latter occurred near lat. 21° S., long. 173° W.

Earthquakes during August

On August 2 earthquake near Copiapo in northern Chilefth tf its epicentre near lat. 27° S., long. 70° instructive Dominican Republic earthquake a 17h. 51m. 07s. g.m.t. on August 4 had its epivitre near lat. 19–3° N., long. 69° W., which is nine miles east of the Samana Peninsula. Strong aftershocks from this epicentre took place at 13h. 28m. 24s. g.m.t. on August 8 and 19h. 17.6m. g.m.t. on August 21. The earthquake of August 11 at lh. 54.3m. g.m.t. had its epicentre in the Solomon Islands near lat. 8° S., long. 155° E., whereas that of August 15 at 15h. 23.9m. g.m.t. had its epicentre near lat. 22° S., long. 170° E. All the above epicentres were determined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association. The earthquakes of August 2, 8, 11 and 21, together with nine others, were registered by Mr. E. W. Pollard at Binstead, Isle of Wight.

Progress‐report on seismological activity of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1944–1945

The general seismological program of the Coast and Geodetic Survey continued without serious interruption although some branches of the work suffered through expanded programs in other branches.The Survey continued to publish teleseismic results for 24 stations of which ten may be classed as independent, ten as cooperative, and four as Bureau stations. In addition, the Lake Mead Seismological Party operated five stations in the Boulder Dam, Shasta Dam, and Grand Coulee Dam areas with the cooperation of the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Five of the 24 stations previously named are in foreign countries. The successful operation of this large group of stations was due in large measure to the aid given by university officials, Weather Bureau personnel, personnel of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington and of the Smithsonian Institution,representatives of the Greenland Government in the United States, and officials of the Panama Canal. Through the cooperation of Science Service, the Jesuit Seismological Association and many individual stations, 31 immediate epicenter‐determinations were reported between June 1, 1944, and May 30, 1945.

Progress‐report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for 1944

War conditions have continued to affect seriously the work of the member stations of the Jesuit Seismological Association during the year 1944. Nevertheless, reports of earthquakes were received at the Central Station in Saint Louis from the seismological stations at the following Jesuit colleges and universities: Canisius College, Buffalo; Loyola University, Chicago; Xavier University, Cincinnati; Regis College, Denver; Fordham University, New York; Georgetown University, Washington; Mount Saint Michael's, Spokane; Loyola University, New Orleans; University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara; Spring Hill College, Spring Hill; Weston College, Weston; and from the Saint Louis University cooperative stations at Cape Girardeau and Florissant, Missouri, and Little Rock, Arkansas.

Recent Earthquakes

DURING April and the early part of May 1945, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association, determined the provisional epicentres of five earthquakes. The first two occurred on April 15, the first at 2h. 35·2m. G.M.T. and the second at 19h. 50·6m. G.M.T. The former had an epicentre at lat. 56° N., long. 164° E., which is east of Kamchatka, and the latter an epicentre at lat. 22·5° N., long. 108·0° W., which is off Mazatlan, Mexico. The third earthquake was on April 19 at 13h. 03·5m. G.M.T. from an epicentre near lat. 40° S., long. 179° E., which is east of New Zealand. The earthquake of April 21 at 17h. 14·5m. G.M.T., according to the calculations based on reports from twelve earthquake observatories (instrumental), had its epicentre at lat. 19·3° N., long. 100·6° W. Its depth of focus was below normal, probably 50–100 km. below the surface of the earth. The earthquake was felt in Mexico. The fifth earthquake was on May 19 at 7h. 55·8m. G.M.T. The provisional epicentre, based on instrumental reports from eight observatories, has been estimated at lat. 16·0°N., long. 98·4° W., which is west of Mexico.

Progress Report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for the Years 1941, 1942, and 1943

Progress Report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for the Years 1941, 1942, and 1943

Recent Earthquakes

THE United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association, has determined the provisional epicentres of five recent earthquakes. The first, on August 7, at 3h. 25·3m. G.M.T., had its epicentre at 16·9° S., 71·5° W., which is in Peru. The second, on August 10, at lh. 52·7m. G.M.T., had its epicentre at 51·4° N., 130·5° W., which is south of Queen Charlotte Islands, off British Columbia. The third, on August 18, at 10h. 33·1m. G.M.T., had its epicentre at 35° N., 137° E., which is in Japan. The depth of focus of this shock was probably near 200 km. The fourth shock occurred on August 24 at 23h. 37·8m. G.M.T., and had its epicentre at 15° N., 93° W., which is in Guatemala. The depth of focus of this shock was slightly less than 100 km. The fifth earthquake occurred on September 5 at 4h. 38·8m. G.M.T. It had its epicentre at 45° 01′ N., 74° 44′ W.

Recent Earthquakes

THE United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association, has determined the epicentres of three recent earthquakes. The first was on June 28 at 7h. 58·9m. G.M.T. with an epicentre at latitude 14·6° N., longitude 92·6° W., off southern Mexico. This shock was registered at fifteen American stations and at Honolulu, Ottawa and Toledo (Spain), but not in any strength at Wellington, New Zealand. The second shock was on July 12 at 19h. 30·4m. G.M.T. from an epicentre at latitude 44·7° N., longitude 114·4° W. in Idaho. This was recorded at six United States seismograph stations. The third shock was on July 19 at 10h. 20·9m. G.M.T. from an epicentre at latitude 33° N., longitude I38°E. (off Japan). This was recorded at five U.S. stations and at Honolulu. All interpretations and calculations are tentative. During June twenty-two local earthquakes were felt in New Zealand. One, on June 28, may have attained an instrumental magnitude of 5½. This was felt in eastern and southern parts of North Island and at Nelson just after 13h. 14m. G.M.T. The shock of June 26 had instrumental magnitude 5 and was felt at Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Taupo region. Several shocks had Scale 4 intensity.

Earthquakes During the Second Quarter of 1944

DURING April and May, twenty-six strong earthquakes were registered by the instruments at Toledo (Spain), and ten by the seismographs at Wellington, New Zealand. In addition, twenty-five earthquakes were felt by people in some parts of New Zealand. During April 26–June 25, eight epicentres were determined from instrumental evidence by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association. On April 26 an earthquake originated at lh. 53·9m. G.M.T. from a provisional epicentre at 1° S., 131° E., in western New Guinea. It was registered by the instruments at eleven United States observatories, and also at Toledo and Wellington. An after-shock from the same epicentre had its origin time at 14h. 37·9m. G.M.T. on April 27. This was registered at Toledo and Wellington and was reported from fifteen other stations in the United States, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Progress‐report of the Jesuit Seismological Association for the years 1941, 1942, and 1943

The tripartite arrangement between Science Service, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the Jesuit Seismological Association has continued in fruitful operation during these years in spite of the difficult circumstances created by the war. Through this arrangement, telegraphic reports are received from important stations in the United States so that immediate determinations of the epicenters of earthquakes can be made independently by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in Washington and the Central Station of the Jesuit Seismological Association in Saint Louis, In addition to this excellent arrangement, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey has made available by mail to the Central Station of the Jesuit Seismological Association in Saint Louis information on earthquakes transmitted through courtesy of the State, War, and Navy Departments from such stations in the Pacific Area as Fairbanks and Sitka (Alaska), Honolulu (Territory of Hawaii), Brisbane, Perth, and Riverview (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Apia (Samoa), and Balboa Heights (Canal Zone). In addition to these, reports are received by mail from Tacubaya (Mexico) and from Bogota (Colombia), and through the courtesy of the Carnegie Institution of Washington readings are also obtained from the seismograms of the station at Huancayo (Peru).

Recent Earthquakes

THE United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, in co-operation with Science Service and the Jesuit Seismological Association, has found the epicentres of three recent earthquakes. On January 10 at 20h. 10·0m. G.M.T., an earthquake had its epicentre in Mexico near lat. 18·1° N., long. 100·6° W. It was recorded throughout America and as far north as Sitka in Alaska. On January 15 at 23h. 49·4m. G.M.T., an earthquake had its epicentre in the Argentine near lat. 31·5° S., long. 68° W. It was recorded throughout America as far north as Alaska and at Honolulu. On February 3 at 12h. 15·2m. G.M.T., an earthquake had its epicentre in south-eastern Alaska near lat. 59·3° N., long. 138·0° W. This was recorded by seismographs at Buffalo, Burlington, Chicago, Fordham, Georgetown, Honolulu, Pasadena, Philadelphia, Sitka and Tucson.