How are seismic waves refracted and reflected?
1 Answer
It is the differences in relative densities of solids and liquids that affects the direction and velocity of seismic waves.
Explanation:
Seismic velocities depend on the material properties such as composition, mineral phase and packing structure, temperature, and pressure of the media through which seismic waves pass.
Seismic waves travel more quickly through denser materials and therefore generally travel more quickly with depth. Anomalously hot areas slow down seismic waves. Seismic waves move more slowly through a liquid than a solid.
Molten areas within the Earth slow down P waves and stop S waves because their shearing motion cannot be transmitted through a liquid. Partially molten areas may slow down the P waves and attenuate or weaken S waves. - from http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/earth_int.htm
This page also has some very good graphics.
Some other graphics here: http://eqseis.geosc.psu.edu/~cammon/HTML/Classes/IntroQuakes/Notes/waves_and_interior.html
