The importance of surface waves in strong ground-motion
Abstract
Surface waves, when present in strong ground-motion, may contribute more to the Modified Mercalli intensity and to damage than does the S wave, even if the S wave contains higher accelerations. This gives a qualitative explanation for the observed regional variation in the felt effects of earthquakes in New Zealand, by assuming a regional variation in the predominant focal depth and hence in the amplitudes of the Love and Rayleigh waves that are excited.