Maavärinavibratsioonid

Maavärinavibratsioonid, also known as seismic waves, are vibrations that travel through the Earth's layers as a result of an earthquake or other seismic event. These waves originate from the earthquake's hypocenter, the point within the Earth where the rupture begins.

There are two main types of seismic waves: body waves and surface waves. Body waves travel through the Earth's interior. P-waves, or primary waves, are compressional waves that travel fastest and can move through solids, liquids, and gases. S-waves, or secondary waves, are shear waves that are slower than P-waves and can only travel through solids.

Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface and are generally slower than body waves, but they can cause significant damage. Love waves are horizontal shear waves that move the ground side to side. Rayleigh waves are a type of surface wave that causes the ground to move in an elliptical motion, similar to ocean waves.

The study of seismic waves is called seismology. Seismographs are instruments used to detect and record seismic waves. By analyzing the arrival times and characteristics of different seismic waves recorded at various locations, seismologists can determine the location and magnitude of earthquakes, as well as learn about the Earth's internal structure. The intensity of ground shaking caused by seismic waves is measured using the Mercalli intensity scale.