Primary Seismic Waves

The fastest set of earthquake vibrations – also known as P-waves. They move through the Earth in compression and expansion motions (much like sound waves move through air). Called primary because they are the first recorded at a seismograph. Primary waves are able to travel through both solids and liquids.

Related terms:

• P-wave
• preliminary waves
• decay of waves
• seismic tomography
• seismic event
• seismic vertical
• seismic prospecting
• seismic area
• primary wave
• primary low