How do you determine the epicenter and Richter magnitude of an earthquake?
To determine the epicenter of an earthquake, you need the data/readings from three separate seismic stations, wherein they were able to record the energy released by the earthquake using seismographs and other equipment. Using data from at least three stations, you will be able to triangulate the position of the epicenter. (There is a website which simulates this process of plotting data and triangulation, forgot the link though.) As for the rank on the Richter scale, it is measured by the amount of energy released by the earthquake.
