Seismology

In the broadest sense, Seismology is the study of earthquakes.

This guide is designed to be a finding aid for information related to Seismology targeted toward Boston University faculty, staff, and students. It includes both print and online materials. Annotation is provided in instances where the resource title is ambiguous. The guide is not comprehensive. If you need assistance locating these or any other sources, please contact the Science and Engineering Library reference department.

Electronic Databases

Use these databases to search for articles on topics related to seismology. Databases are listed in order of recommended use for finding articles about seismology.

GeoRef 1785+
This is the most comprehensive database of bibliographic information in the geosciences. It provides access to over 2.3 million references to articles, books, maps, conference papers, reports, and theses, covering the geology of the world.

Web of Science 1988+
Offering an electronic version of Science Citation Index, this database
covers articles in all areas of the sciences and enables users to search current and retrospective multidisciplinary information from approximately 8,500 of the most prestigious, high impact research journals in the world. Its most unique feature is the
ability to search for cited references in journal articles.

General Science Full Text (WilsonWeb) 1984+
Citations, with abstracts, to journal articles selected from close to 200
English-language core and popular journals covering all science disciplines.
Includes access to the full text of articles for 25% of the journals.

Environmental Issues & Policy Index 1973+
This database offers deep coverage in applicable areas of agriculture, ecosystem ecology, energy, environmental law, geography, marine & freshwater resources, public policy, social impacts, urban planning, and more. It offers cover-to-cover indexing and detailed abstracts for well over 1,000 international journals with ongoing coverage for over 500 titles, providing a global perspective on applicable issues.

Applied Science and TechnologyFull Text 1983+
This database contains full text of articles from 157 applied science and technology journals plus indexing and abstracting for a broad range of leading trade and industrial publications, professional and technical society journals, specialized subject periodicals, buyers' guides, directories, and conference proceedings.

LexisNexis Academic
This full-text database includes newspapers, wire services, transcripts of television and radio broadcasts, medical and health journals, trade journals, accounting literature, company financial reports, law reviews, statutory and case law, and public opinion polls. It is international in scope, and includes newspapers in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, and German. Dates of coverage vary depending upon the publication.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

If you are just beginning to do research on a topic, dictionaries and encyclopedias are a great place to start. These resources will provide background and introductory information on a subject.

Earthquake glossary from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Encyclopedia of earthquakes and volcanoes
Sci/Eng Reference QE521.R58 2001

Encyclopedia of geology
Sci/Eng Reference QE5 .E516 2005

Environmental encyclopedia
Sci/Eng Reference GE10 .E38 2003

McGraw-Hill dictionary of earth science
Sci/Eng Reference QE5 .M362 2003

Treatise on geochemistry
Sci/Eng Reference QE515 .T69 2004

Web Resources

Basic Seismology
This website from the Seismology Research Center (SRC) provides earthquake basics, earthquake news, and current research activities at the SRC.

Earthquakes
Cal Tech web site that provides general information about earthquakes, earthquake simulation movies, educational tools, and a slip history database.

Earthquakes Index
University of Alaska-Fairbanks site that provides stories about earthquakes and how they occur.

Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
USGS-Earthquakes Hazards Program page that provides history, photos, and accounts of this earthquake.

Harvard Seismology Page
This site provides information about current research in the areas of waves, earthquake dynamics, unusual earthquakes, earth surface modeling, and more.

National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)
This page provides a great deal of information about earthquakes including current and historical earthquakes, photos, maps, and educational materials.

Plate tectonics, the cause of earthquakes
This web site provides information and photos describing the "how, why, and where" of earthquakes.

Understanding Earthquakes
This educational site provides a great variety of information about earthquakes including how earthquakes occur, earthquake locations, earthquake accounts, and a history of seismology

What are Earthquakes?
This page was developed by the Southern California Integrated GPS Network Education Module. It provides a simple description of earthquakes and earthquake-related phenomena.

Organizations and Research Centers

SEL Research Guides || SEL Electronic Resources by Subject
All BU Research Guides || All BU Electronic Resources by Subject

Suggestions are welcome.