Seismic Waves

There are two main types of seismic waves

1. body waves
2. surface waves

Body Waves

Body waves travel through the boy of the earth.

• P-waves: Longitudinal waves (movement of particles is the same direction as the wave). They travel through air, liquid and solids (through solids at 5000 m/s. They hit first and are the fastest of the two body waves.
• S-waves: the next wave that hits is the S-wave. This is a transverse wave (movement of particles perpendicular to direction of wave). Slightly slower than the P-waves and only travel through solids.

Surface Waves

Travel through the surface and are more destructive than body waves

• Love waves: transverse waves that are very damaging to structures' foundations
• Rayleigh waves: Longitudinal waves that are slightly slower than love waves.