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: -As their name suggests, surface waves travel just below the surface of the ground. Although they move even more slowly than S-waves, they can be much larger in amplitude and are often the most destructive type of seismic wave.

Detailed explanation-3: -Surface waves-By a property called dispersion, surface waves of different wave lengths travel at different velocities. 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: -Surface waves They are typically generated when the source of the earthquake is close to the Earth’s surface. Although surface waves travel more slowly than S-waves, they can be much larger in amplitude and can be the most destructive type of seismic wave.

Detailed explanation-5: -Surface waves are the slowest, but they do the most damage in an earthquake.