Seismic waves, also known as earthquake waves, are waves of energy that travel through the Earth’s crust as a result of an earthquake or other seismic activity. These waves can be divided into two main categories: Body waves and Surface waves.
Body waves travel through the Earth’s interior, while surface waves travel along the Earth’s surface. Body waves are further divided into two types: primary waves (P-waves) and secondary waves (S-waves). P-waves are compressional waves that move through rock and other materials, causing them to compress and expand in the direction of the wave. S-waves are transverse waves that move through rock and other materials, causing them to move up and down perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Surface waves are slower than body waves, but they can cause more damage to structures on the Earth’s surface. They can be further divided into two types: Love waves and Rayleigh waves. Love waves move in a horizontal motion and are named after the British mathematician Augustus Love. Rayleigh waves move in both a horizontal and vertical motion and are named after the British physicist Lord Rayleigh.
Seismic waves can be detected and measured using seismometers, which are instruments that record the motion of the ground during an earthquake. By analyzing the characteristics of seismic waves, scientists can gain insight into the size, location, and type of earthquake that occurred, as well as the structure and composition of the Earth’s interior. This information can be used to improve earthquake prediction and hazard mitigation efforts.
