P AND S WAWE SHADOW ZONES, STUDY

PERAMATER AND DIFFERENT SEISMIC PHASES

Department of E&ES

Student: Naveed Ahmad

Professor: Dr. Abid Ali
 Seismic Shadow Zones (1-2)

 A seismic shadow zone is an area of the Earth's surface where

seismographs cannot detect an earthquake after its seismic waves have
passed through the Earth.

 The shadow zone is the area of the earth from angular distances of 104 to
140 degrees from a given earthquake that does not receive any direct P
waves which show in the figure.

 There are some areas where waves are not reported which are known as
Shadow Zones.

 A seismic shadow zone is an area that receives only one type of seismic
wave or, in some places, no seismic activity.
Seismic Shadow Zones (2-2)
 P Waves Shadow Zone (1-2)
P-waves also known as Primary Waves.

 Also called as the longitudinal or compressional waves.

Particles of the medium vibrate along the direction of

propagation of the wave.

P-waves move faster and are the first to arrive at the surface.

These waves are of high frequency.

 P Waves Shadow Zone (2-3)

They can travel in all mediums.

Velocity of P waves in Solids > Liquids > Gases.

Their velocity depends on shear strength or elasticity of the

material.

 P-wave shadow zone - caused by refraction of seismic waves.

 P Waves Shadow Zone (2-3)
The shadow zone for ‘P’ waves is an area that corresponds to
an angle between 1030 and 1420.
 S Wave Shadow Zone (3-1)

Also called as transverse or distortional waves.

Analogous to water ripples or light waves.

S-waves arrive at the surface with some time lag.

A secondary wave cannot pass through liquids or gases.

These waves are of high frequency waves.

 S Wave Shadow Zone (2-3)
 Travel at varying velocities (proportional to shear strength)
through the solid part of the Earth’s crust, mantle.

The shadow zone of ‘S’ waves extends almost halfway around

the globe from the earthquake’s focus.

The shadow zone for ‘S’ waves is an area that corresponds to

an angle between 1030 and 1800

This observation led to the discovery of liquid outer core.

Since S waves cannot travel through liquid, they do not pass
through the liquid outer core.
 S Wave Shadow Zone (3-3)
 S-wave shadow zone - caused by S-waves' inability to pass
through liquid.
 S waves don’t appear beyond an angular distance of ~103°
 S waves are stopped by the liquid outer core
 P and S Wave Shadow Zone (1-3)
 There are some areas where waves are not reported which are
known as Shadow Zones.

 For each earthquake different shadow zone.

 Seismographs located at any distance within 105o from

epicenter recorded arrival of both P and S waves.

 Seismographs beyond 145o recorded arrival of P waves & not

S waves.
 P and S Wave Shadow Zone (2-3)

 So, entire zone beyond 105o is a shadow zone of S wave

(which is little more than 40% of entire earth surface) & zone
between 105o & 145o is a shadow zone of P waves

 P wave shadows between 104-140 degree, both sides; S wave

shadow from 105 of one side to 105 of the other.
P and S Wave Shadow Zone (3-3)
Thank You