How have seismometers evolved? In this section, you can learn about the history of seismology, the discipline that detects and measures the Earth’s movements: from the first seismoscope, built in 132 AD by the Chinese scientist Zhang Heng, to the advent of modern technologies in the 1970s.
From bronze amphorae to the advent of electronics and computers: today, the recording of earthquakes and the analysis of data take place more quickly and efficiently, providing scientists with vital information for understanding and studying earthquakes.
Modern seismometer networks continuously record ground movement. Digital data make it possible to quickly and automatically locate an earthquake, estimate its magnitude and, in some countries, activate early-warning systems.
