jordskjelvbølgers

Seismic waves, known as jordskjelvbølger in Norwegian, are vibrations that travel through the Earth and are caused by earthquakes or other seismic events. These waves carry energy outward from the source of the disturbance. There are two main types of seismic waves: body waves and surface waves.

Body waves travel through the Earth's interior. The two types of body waves are primary waves (P-waves) and secondary waves (S-waves). P-waves are compressional waves, meaning they cause particles to vibrate parallel to the direction of wave propagation. They are the fastest seismic waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases. S-waves are shear waves, causing particles to vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. They are slower than P-waves and can only travel through solids.

Surface waves travel along the Earth's surface. They are generated when body waves reach the surface. The two main types of surface waves are Love waves and Rayleigh waves. Love waves cause horizontal shearing motion of the ground. Rayleigh waves cause particles to move in an elliptical path, similar to waves on the surface of water. Surface waves are generally responsible for the most damage during an earthquake because they have larger amplitudes and longer periods than body waves. The study of seismic waves is fundamental to seismology and helps scientists understand the Earth's internal structure and the mechanics of earthquakes.