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Geology & Earth Science

Geology and earth science formulas and calculators for seismology and hydrogeology used to understand Earth's structure and behavior. Includes wave propagation, groundwater flow, and rock mechanics equations.

30Formulas
2Subcategories
Updated Jul 2026

General

Flood Recurrence Interval (Weibull Formula)

T = (n+1) / m

General

Drainage Basin Relief Ratio

Rh = Relief / Basin Length

General

Gravimetric Soil Moisture Content

w (%) = ((Mass_wet - Mass_dry) / Mass_dry) * 100

General

Rock/Mineral Density (Specific Gravity)

SG = Density of Sample / Density of Water

General

Geothermal Gradient

Gradient = ΔT / Δd

General

Stream Gradient

Gradient = Elevation Drop / Stream Length

General

Stream Discharge

Q = V * A

General

Radiometric Age Dating (Half-Life)

t = (t1/2 / ln(2)) * ln(N0/N)

Hydrogeology

Groundwater Seepage (Linear) Velocity

v_s = v / n

Hydrogeology

Well Specific Capacity

Sc = Q / s

Hydrogeology

Groundwater Recharge Rate

R = P - ET - RO

Hydrogeology

Porosity

n = (Vv / Vt) * 100

Hydrogeology

Specific Yield (Unconfined Aquifer)

Sy = Volume of Water Drained / Total Volume of Aquifer

Hydrogeology

Aquifer Storativity (Confined Aquifer)

S = Ss * b

Hydrogeology

Well Drawdown (Thiem Equation, Confined Aquifer)

s = (Q / (2π*T)) * ln(R/r)

Hydrogeology

Hydraulic Conductivity from Intrinsic Permeability

K = (k * ρ * g) / μ

Hydrogeology

Groundwater Volumetric Flow Rate (Darcy's Law)

Q = K * A * (dh/dl)

Hydrogeology

Darcy's Law (Groundwater Flow Velocity)

v = -K * (dh/dl)

Seismology

Moment Magnitude Scale

Mw = (2/3)*log10(M0) - 10.7

Seismology

Seismic Moment

M0 = μ * A * D

Seismology

Fault Slip Rate

Slip Rate = Total Displacement / Time Elapsed

Seismology

Tsunami Wave Speed (Shallow Water Wave)

v = sqrt(g*h)

Seismology

Peak Ground Acceleration Attenuation (Simplified)

PGA = a * 10^(b*M) / (R+c)^d

Seismology

Earthquake Energy Release (Magnitude-Energy Relation)

log10(E) = 1.5*M + 4.8

Seismology

Seismic Wave Travel Time

t = D / v

Seismology

Earthquake Epicenter Distance (S-P Wave Time Interval)

D = (Vp * Vs / (Vp - Vs)) * (Ts - Tp)

Hydrogeology

Aquifer Transmissivity

T = Kb

Hydrogeology

Darcy's Law

Q = −KA(dh/dl)

Seismology

P-wave Velocity

V_p = √((K + 4μ/3) / ρ)

Seismology

Richter Magnitude Scale

M = log₁₀(A) − log₁₀(A₀)