Just as air acts as the carrier of sound waves, the Earth supports the propagation of seismic waves, which are excited, for example, by earthquakes, eruptions and explosions. In human history, high-amplitude seismic waves and related events such as tsunamis have brought more destruction than any other natural phenomenon. However, seismic waves also transmit information about their source and about the medium through which they propagate. In this chapter, we introduce the basic elements of seismic wave propagation, starting with a description of different wave types that are distinguished by their propagation velocities, polarization directions, and the regions of the Earth’s interior through which they travel. We will learn how seismic waves interact with heterogeneities, i.e., how they reflect, refract, and convert into each other. This will allow us to decipher the wealth of information transmitted by these waves in order to construct images of the deep Earth’s interior.
Review the options below to login to check your access.
Log in with your Cambridge Aspire website account to check access.
If you believe you should have access to this content, please contact your institutional librarian or consult our FAQ page for further information about accessing our content.