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A seismic wave is a mechanical wave of acoustic energy that travels through the Earth or another planetary body. It can result from an earthquake (or generally, a quake), volcanic eruption, magma movement, a large landslide and a large man-made explosion that produces low-frequency acoustic energy.
Cross-section of the Earth, showing the paths of earthquake waves. The paths curve because the different rock types found at different depths change the waves' speed. S waves do not travel through the core. The boundary between the upper and lower mantle is a 670 km (420 mi) discontinuity. [2]
Peridotite, a type of ultramafic rock. Ultramafic rocks (also referred to as ultrabasic rocks, although the terms are not wholly equivalent) are igneous and meta-igneous rocks with a very low silica content (less than 45%), generally >18% MgO, high FeO, low potassium, and are composed of usually greater than 90% mafic minerals (dark colored, high magnesium and iron content).
A volcano tectonic earthquake or volcano earthquake is caused by the movement of magma beneath the surface of the Earth. [1] The movement results in pressure changes where the rock around the magma has a change in stress. At some point, this stress can cause the rock to break or move. This seismic activity is used by scientists to monitor ...
The lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (referred to as the LAB by geophysicists) represents a mechanical difference between layers in Earth's inner structure. Earth's inner structure can be described both chemically (crust, mantle, and core) and mechanically. The lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary lies between Earth's cooler, rigid ...
Seismic waves pass relatively slowly through the asthenosphere [5] compared to the overlying lithospheric mantle. Thus, it has been called the low-velocity zone (LVZ), although the two are not strictly the same; [ 6 ] [ 7 ] the lower boundary of the LVZ lies at a depth of 180 to 220 kilometers (110 to 140 mi), [ 8 ] whereas the base of the ...
Komatiite / koʊˈmɑːtiˌaɪt / is a type of ultramafic mantle -derived volcanic rock defined as having crystallised from a lava of at least 18 wt% magnesium oxide (MgO). [1] It is classified as a 'picritic rock'. Komatiites have low silicon, potassium and aluminium, and high to extremely high magnesium content.
The Mohorovičić discontinuity (/ ˌmoʊhəˈroʊvɪtʃɪtʃ / MOH-hə-ROH-vih-chitch; Croatian: [moxorôʋiːtʃitɕ]) [1] – usually called the Moho discontinuity, Moho boundary, or just Moho – is the boundary between the crust and the mantle of Earth. It is defined by the distinct change in velocity of seismic waves as they pass through ...