Research Task On P, S + T Waves

Research task on P, S and T waves
Similar to how dropping a pebble into water

creates ripples that propagate through the
medium, an earthquake will release energy
from a plate fracture or slip in the form of
different types of seismic wave (USGS, 2004).
These include P (Primary
‘longitudinal/compressional’) waves, S
(Secondary ‘Shear’) waves, T (Tertiary)
waves, and surface waves (or L ‘Long’
waves). P and S waves are known as body
waves, which travel through the interior of the
Earth, in contrast to surface waves which only
move along the surface of the planet. Surface
waves are the waves that are almost entirely
responsible for the damage and destruction
associated with earthquakes Diagram showing the progression of seismic waves from the
(www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html). earthquake epicentre, moving at different velocities and their
subsequent effect on infrastructure
(www.-rohan.sdsu.edu)
P waves or Primary waves are the fastest
kind of seismic wave, and, consequently, are
the first to ‘arrive’ at a seismic station
(local/regional laboratories with equipment
used to record seismic activity/movement of
the ground – www.earthquakecountry.info)
(www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html). On
average, these waves travel at roughly 6.0 –
8.0km/s in the crust (more than seven times
the speed of sound. They travel through the
body of the surroundings in all directions, and
it is the motion of these material particles that
transmit the energy parallel to the direction of
wave propagation (www.-rohan.sdsu.edu).
S waves or Secondary waves move slower than

P waves, with an average velocity of around
3.5km/s, and only pass through solid mediums
(as no wave will propagate in gases and fluids).
Particles in the medium transmit the energy
perpendicularly up and down, or side-to-side,
and forward from the direction of wave
travel/propagation (www.-rohan.sdsu.edu).
T waves or Tertiary waves are acoustic phases that travel through the ocean. These
waves have the lowest velocity when compared to P waves and S waves. Along with
the crustal phases (P and S waves) that are generated when an earthquake occurs
under the ocean, a portion of the energy is transmitted into the ocean as acoustic
energy – basically seafloor rumbling. These waves are not always produced, as not all
earthquakes occur underwater. The frequency of these waves is far lower than that of
the P and S body waves, and as the sound propagates far more efficiently in liquid
(water), and hence much smaller events can be recorded by seismometers
(www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/geology/tphase.html).
Surface waves move along the surface of the Earth – as the slowest waves, they
‘arrive’ last (i.e. they produce the most intense earth shaking and surface damage
(infrastructure etc.)
(www.science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/earthquake4.html). As
these waves move along the land’s surface, the deeper the earthquake focus, the
strength of the wave, and consequently its impact on
the surface, is reduced.
‘Love’ waves are named after A.E.H. Love,

a British mathematician who calculated the
mathematical model that explained this
type of wave in 1911. These are the fastest
surface wave and move the ground from
side-to-side, almost like wobbling a jelly;
as they are confined to the crust, Love
waves produce entirely horizontal motion.
(www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html).
The second kind of surface wave is named

the ‘Rayleigh’ wave, after John William
Strutt (Lord Rayleigh) who mathematically
predicted that this wave existed back in
1885. Unlike the straightforward horizontal
motion of the ‘Love’ waves, these waves
roll – causing the ground above it to move
up and down and side-to-side forward,
following the direction of the wave. Much
of the violent shaking experienced from an
earthquake can arise from a Rayleigh wave,
which can be far larger than other waves
generated by the earthquake
(www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html).

Research Task On P, S + T Waves

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Research task on P, S and T waves

Similar to how dropping a pebble into water

S waves or Secondary waves move slower than

‘Love’ waves are named after A.E.H. Love,

The second kind of surface wave is named

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