How do seismic waves propagate?

Seismic waves can be generated by a sudden release of energy such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or chemical explosion. There are several types of seismic waves, often classified as body waves, which propagate through the volume of the Earth, and surface waves, which travel along the surface of the Earth.

What is the ray parameter?

Definition: The ray parameter is the geometric property of a seismic ray that remains constant throughout its path. It is invariant in transmission, reflection, refraction and transformation. It is equal to r sin i / v.

What is the wavelength of a seismic wave?

The wavelength (λ) is the distance between two adjacent points on the wave that have similar displacements, one wavelength is the distance between successive crest. The manner and speed of seismic waves travel through material is controlled by their elastic properties.

What causes seismic waves to refract?

Refraction is (1) the deflection, or bending, of the ray path of a seismic wave caused by its passage from one material to another having different elastic properties.

What are 4 types of seismic waves?

Seismic Wave Motions—4 waves animated

• Body Waves – Primary (P) & Secondary (S) Waves.
• Surface Waves – Rayleigh & Love Waves.

What are the 3 types of seismic wave?

There are three basic types of seismic waves – P-waves, S-waves and surface waves. P-waves and S-waves are sometimes collectively called body waves.

What is a seismic ray?

a line normal to the front of a seismic wave propagating from the focus of an earthquake. The direction of a ray changes with a change in the velocity of seismic waves along the path of propagation.

What is Ray theory?

Ray theory describes only the direction a plane wave takes in a fiber. Ray theory eliminates any properties of the plane wave that interfere with the transmission of light along a fiber. In reality, plane waves interfere with each other. Therefore, only certain types of rays are able to propagate in an optical fiber.

Where do P-waves travel the fastest?

mantle
Because the earth’s mantle becomes more rigid and compressible as the depth below the asthenosphere increases, P-waves travel faster as they go deeper in the mantle. The density of the mantle also increases with depth below the asthenosphere. The higher density reduces the speed of seismic waves.

How does seismic wave behave?

Seismic waves travel a curving path through the earth due to changes in composition, pressure, and temperature within the layers of the Earth. Seismic waves travel at different speeds through different materials. In this 2-layer model two wave fronts leave an impact at the same time but the lower layer is faster.

Which is faster S or P-waves?

P waves travel fastest and are the first to arrive from the earthquake. In S or shear waves, rock oscillates perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. In rock, S waves generally travel about 60% the speed of P waves, and the S wave always arrives after the P wave.

What is the most powerful seismic wave?

surface waves
Seismic waves can be classified into two basic types: body waves which travel through the Earth and surface waves, which travel along the Earth’s surface. Those waves that are the most destructive are the surface waves which generally have the strongest vibration.

Is the ray parameter of a seismic ray constant?

rsin i / v = constant = p Ray Parameter Constant, irrespective of local wave speed Definition: The ray parameter is the geometric property of a seismic ray that remains constant throughout its path. It is invariant in transmission, reflection, refraction and transformation. It is equal to r sin i / v.

What do the upper and lower case letters mean in seismic wave path?

Upper case letters denote travel through a part of the earth (e.g. P or S), and lower case letters denote reflections from boundaries. A complete, standardized nomenclature for seismic wave paths is available at the web site: http://www.isc.ac.uk/Documents/IASPEI/sspl.html.

Which of the following waves are the fastest seismic waves?

to the direction of wave travel. P waves are the fastest kind of seismic wave. A longitudinal P wave has the ability to move through solid rock and fluid rock, like water or the semi-liquid layers of the earth.

How is wave transformation unique to seismology?

Wave transformation Wave transformation is unique to seismology. Nothing like it occurs to sound, light or water waves. It is a consequence of elastic waves crossing boundaries in solid media. Refracted P Incident P Hitting a boundary with an incident P will cause the rock at the point of incidence to be not only compressed but also sheared.