About the earthquake itself:
* Magnitude: The amplitude of the seismic waves on the seismogram, combined with the distance to the earthquake epicenter, can be used to calculate the earthquake's magnitude.
* Epicenter location: While you won't get the exact location with just one seismogram, you can narrow it down to a specific region. This is done by comparing the arrival times of different seismic waves (P-waves, S-waves, and surface waves).
* Earthquake depth: The difference in arrival times of P-waves and S-waves can be used to estimate the depth of the earthquake.
* Fault rupture mechanism: The waveform characteristics can reveal information about the direction of fault rupture and the type of fault motion (normal, reverse, or strike-slip).
About the Earth's structure:
* The Earth's interior: The way seismic waves travel through the Earth can provide insights about the different layers of the Earth's interior, including the crust, mantle, and core.
Limitations:
* Location accuracy: You need at least three seismograms from different locations to pinpoint the exact epicenter.
* Incomplete information: A single seismogram can't tell you the entire story of an earthquake. You won't be able to know the full extent of the rupture, the ground shaking intensity, or the potential for aftershocks.
* Limited context: A single seismogram doesn't offer information on the regional tectonics or geological history of the area where the earthquake occurred.
In conclusion: A single seismogram is like a piece of a puzzle. It offers valuable information about an earthquake, but you need to combine it with other data and analysis to get a complete picture.