GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Of the two types of surface waves, the L-waves are the most destructive. They can literally move the ground beneath a building faster than the building itself can respond, effectively shearing the base off of the rest of the building.

Detailed explanation-2: -Seismic waves can be classified into two basic types: body waves which travel through the Earth and surface waves, which travel along the Earth’s surface. Those waves that are the most destructive are the surface waves which generally have the strongest vibration.

Detailed explanation-3: -It is the surface waves which cause most property damage because surface waves produce more ground movement and travel more slowly, so they take longer to pass.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because the amplitude of surface waves diminishes less rapidly with distance than the amplitude of P or S waves, surface waves are often the most important component of ground shaking far from the earthquake source, thus can be the most destructive.

Detailed explanation-5: -Surface waves are the seismic waves that cause the most damage. Surface waves are named as such because they move along close to the surface of the Earth.