S waves, or secondary waves, are a type of seismic wave that can only travel through solid materials. They cannot pass through liquids or gases. In the Earth's internal structure, S waves are able to travel through the following layers:
-
Crust: The solid outer layer of the Earth, which consists of various types of rocks.
-
Mantle: The solid layer beneath the crust, which is composed of silicate rocks that are capable of flow over geological timescales.
However, S waves cannot travel through:
-
Outer Core: This layer is liquid, composed mainly of iron and nickel, and therefore does not support the transverse motion of S waves.
-
Inner Core: Although the inner core is solid and S waves can travel through it, it is situated deep within the Earth, making the S waves that have traveled through it less commonly recorded.
In summary, S waves can travel through the crust and mantle (both solid), but they cannot penetrate the outer core (liquid). They can travel through the inner core (solid) but with limited detection from the surface.
1 answer