Given the large number of possible body-wave ray paths within the EArth, we migh

Question

Given the large number of possible body-wave ray paths within the EArth, we might expect a seismogram to consist mainly of P and S waves and their reflected or converted phases. However, siesmograms are mostly dominated by large longer-period surface waves that arrive after the P- and S- waves. Their near-surface paths make surface waves ideally suited for studying the outer layers of the Earth.

1.) In the case of Cascadia, list other advantages of using surface waves instead of body waves to study the plate boundary structure? Consider that for a regional surface wave study you would want ~4<M<6.5 events within the 10=15 egree distance range and for a teleseismic study M>5.5.  

Explanation / Answer

P wave:- It is the primary body wave and it travels through all medium and fastest among all.

S wave:- it is the secondary wave and it doesn't travel through liquid .

Surface wave :-It is the slowest wave travels through the surface .

As we know in earth the p and s wave comes from the inside of the earth so they can provide us the structural details vertically and to the depth from the ground .

But surface wave travels more or less horizontally in shallow depth so it can interpredite the horizontal structure and lithology .

In plate boundary case we need to know the horizontal structural gap to construct the plate boundary so surface wave is more useful.

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