Seismic Surface Waves (R,L)

[kingwinner]

Hello, I am confused by some details about surface waves as well! :confused:

 

1) How does surface waves affect the rocks through which they travel? I know that surface waves are a combination of P and S waves, so would they cause the ground to move BOTH horizontally and vertically and forced the rocks to move in many different directions?

 

2) http://www.darylscience.com/Demos/PSWaves.html

According to this web site, Love Waves causing the ground to move in a horizontal elliptical path ("surface circle", as the web site says), as oppsed to Rayleigh Waves which cause vertical elliptical path! Does it mean that L-wave does exactly the same thing as R-wave but only particles are moved horizontally?

However, the diagram in the bottom of the web site is not showing a "surface circle" paritcle motion, but straight arrows pointing in opposite horizontal directions...why? :confused: