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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, February 28 1968
KU's seismographs record mysteries
Records of the earth's vibrations read like a mystery story, Earl Budke, KU assistant instructor of geology said Tuesday about his work with KU's three seismographs in Lindley Hall.
Each disturbance is a surprise, and discovering its origin and nature requires much careful calculation, he said.
Budke also spoke of the rare excitement of watching the vibrations from a large earthquake being recorded.
Total blackness, the steady ticking of a pendulum, a sharp click every minute—these are the sensory impressions a visitor receives in the room where the 50-year-old seismographs are housed.
"My students call me the mushroom grower," said Budke as he moved carefully about the dark room. He flicked on a red flashlight and pointed to the three seismographs. One seismograph is vertical and two are horizontal, in order to measure vibrations coming from different directions.
A drum revolved slowly and a minute beam of light traced lines across the photographic paper on its surface.
Every day, the record of the earth's virations is taken from the drum and carefully examined for deviations from the normal pattern. The band of paper, which is about three feet long and a foot and a half wide, looks like eyestraining op art.
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The wavy horizontal lines usually don't jump up or down more than the kinks in a hair pin. A sharp rise and fall pattern could signify any one of many things, Budke said.
He has also prepared displays of information concerning recent major earthquakes and artificial blasts, which can be seen in Lindley Hall.
- The seismographs will record nearly all earthquakes from any part of the earth. Atomic tests, such as those conducted in Ne-
mograph readings is also kept at KU. These files began in 1952. Budke, who has been at KU since 1966, has also kept a special record of regional earth disturbances.
A record of each day's earth activity is sent to the Coast and Geodetic Survey in Washington. This information is part of the records received from seismographic stations all over the United States.
vada and local quarry blasts will also show up.
Budke pointed out that the lines near the top and bottom of the paper were heavier than those in the middle.
"That's people-noise," he said. He explained that the heavy lines were caused by students walking up and down the stairs of Lindley
Hall in the mornings and afternoons.
A day-to-day record of seis-
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