If you only have data from two recording stations, the main difficulty you will encounter is the inability to accurately determine the exact location of an event, such as the epicenter of an earthquake. This is because at least three stations are needed to triangulate and pinpoint a precise location; with only two stations, you can only narrow down the location to a line between them, resulting in significant uncertainty and multiple possible locations
. Additional challenges include:
- Data synchronization issues: Ensuring that the data from both stations are time-aligned can be difficult, which affects the accuracy of analysis
- Data consistency and discrepancies: Differences in recording equipment, environmental conditions, or data formats between the two stations can cause inconsistencies and complicate data integration
- Limited spatial coverage: Two stations provide limited geographical coverage, which restricts the ability to capture localized phenomena accurately
- Reduced statistical power and resolution: With limited data points, variability and temporal resolution in analysis may be reduced, affecting the robustness of conclusions
Overall, relying on data from only two recording stations limits spatial accuracy, data reliability, and the ability to fully characterize events or conditions being measured.
