OCEAN 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Juan De Fuca Plate, Plate Tectonics, Skipping Rope
Document Summary
Earthquakes cause the waves to go out from the focus. P (primary) waves: fastest, compression waves - like a slinky, can travel through liquids and solids - all layers of the earth, refraction, small shadow zones, but they will still reach the other side of the earth. Density differences in the mantle cause refraction of p and s waves: density stratification of the earth. Surface waves - cause the most damage (greatest magnitude: slowest wave type. Deep earthquakes at convergent boundaries with subduction: deeper earthquakes aren"t as destructive, but frequency matters and earthquakes occur the most. Big break every 200-1000 years, averaging every 500 years: question of when not if, it is inevitable because the juan de fuca plate gets stuck and pressure builds up. S waves - transverse waves: surface waves - most destructive. Rolling waves - breaks the surface of the earth because of the energy transfer.
