# Quick Quake — Earthquake Data Processing

> Earthquake data analysis tool for rapid location and magnitude verification. (iPhone/iPad app by ESS Earth Sciences.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quick-quake/id743534887 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [ESS Earth Sciences](https://appshunter.io/developer/1424839112)
- Category: Utilities, Productivity
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 9 MB
- Languages: American English, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Greek, Indonesian, Italian and 13 more
- Released: 2013-11-28
- Data updated: 2026-06-07
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quick-quake/id743534887/reviews.md

## What is Quick Quake?

Rapid earthquake location and magnitude verification has never been easier. Quick Quake is also a great educational tool – simply use the demo data to see how P (primary) and S (secondary) waves are used to determine the location of an earthquake.

Quick Quake is an earthquake data analysis tool that allows users to quickly determine the epicentre and magnitude of an earthquake by simply picking a P wave and S wave arrival from a single seismograph, then moving the epicentre around a map until the seismograms from the other stations line up in time.

The Seismology Research Centre has developed Quick Quake so that users of the Quake Server seismic observatory data management system can quickly verify the automatic event notifications that Quake Server sends out by email. The traditional method of locating earthquakes can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes, but with Quick Quake you can verify or refine the automatic eqServer location and magnitude in less than a minute.

How to use Quick Quake with the demo data:
• Select which station you wish to use to pick a P and S wave (the “key site”) and hit the target icon
• Drag the P (primary wave) marker to the right until it aligns with the first signal that you can see above the background noise
• Drag the S (secondary wave) marker to the left until it aligns with the significant increase in signal level (see the screenshots as a guide)
• Pinch to zoom the time and amplitude scale if you need better resolution
• Continue to the locating screen, where you can drag the target around the circle until the waveforms on the left of the screen roughly align with the P and S travel time guide lines

It’s that simple. The solution should work no matter which station you choose, but the closer the station the easier the P and S wave arrival times will be to pick.

If you have an Quake Server, just log in using your credentials and the server's IP address or domain name, then you can browse through recent (and past) automatic events and proceed as above.

On the “Select a Key Site” screen, you can defer stations from your calculations using a left-swipe, or restore them with a right-swipe. You can also sort your stations in order of distance from the selected “key site”.

On the “Locate Event” screen there is are options to adjust the P-wave and S-wave travel velocities to suit your local conditions, as well as the depth of the earthquake. The iPad version shows quick-adjustment buttons, and iPhone and iPad versions include three presets for P and S velocity “models” - now with a customisable magnitude formula.

Contact the Seismology Research Centre to learn more about seismographs, Quake Server, and earthquake monitoring networks. Remember to follow the SRC on Facebook and Twitter.

## Key features

- Rapid earthquake location
- Magnitude verification
- P and S wave analysis
- Demo data for education
- Seismic observatory data integration
- Adjustable travel velocities and depth


## Frequently asked questions about Quick Quake

### How does Quick Quake help determine earthquake locations?

Quick Quake uses P and S wave arrival times from seismographs to pinpoint an earthquake's epicenter. Users select a key site, drag wave markers to align with signals, and then adjust the epicenter on a map until seismograms from other stations synchronize.

### What is the main benefit of using Quick Quake for earthquake verification?

It significantly speeds up the process. Traditional methods can take 10-20 minutes, but Quick Quake allows users to verify or refine automatic earthquake locations and magnitudes in under a minute.

### Can Quick Quake be used for learning about earthquakes?

Yes, it's designed as an educational tool. You can use the demo data to understand how P and S waves are utilized to determine earthquake locations, making complex seismology concepts more accessible.

### What devices is Quick Quake compatible with?

Quick Quake is available for iPhone and iPad devices. The iPad version includes quick-adjustment buttons for added convenience.

### How often is Quick Quake updated?

The app was last updated on August 3, 2022, to version 3.6. This indicates a moderate update frequency, suggesting ongoing support and potential improvements.

### What is the age rating for Quick Quake?

Quick Quake has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger learners interested in science.

### Does Quick Quake have ads?

No, Quick Quake does not contain advertisements. This provides an uninterrupted user experience focused on data analysis and learning.

### Can I customize settings in Quick Quake?

Yes, you can adjust P-wave and S-wave travel velocities to match local conditions, as well as the earthquake's depth. The iPad and iPhone versions also offer three preset velocity models and a customizable magnitude formula.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.6 — 2022-08-03

Bug fix with past event month display

### 3.5 — 2022-01-21

UI Improvements and iOS 15 updates

### 3.4 — 2021-12-09

Bug fixes and updated libraries

### 3.3 — 2020-07-10

Added seconds field to earthquake location details
Latitude and Longitude details increased form 1 to 2 decimal places

### 3.2 — 2018-10-17

Bug fixes

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## Related topics

[ess earth sciences](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ess-earth-sciences) · [quake earth](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/quake-earth)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-07.*
