<p>A person would not detect much else than the surface waves (Love and Rayleigh waves). The later body waves phases are of very low amplitude and are only detected by a sensitive seismometer. Also, at a short offset, it is often hard to pick later phases, even if they occur. There is a critical angle for seismic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_refraction" rel="nofollow noreferrer">refraction</a>, but not for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_seismology" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reflection</a>. 0-offset reflection originates just beneath the source. </p>

<p>The core-mantle boundary represent a large change in elastic properties, so some energy will bounce back to the surface. We call these <a href="http://www.isc.ac.uk/standards/phases/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">phases</a> <em>PcP</em>, <em>ScP</em> and <em>ScS</em> phases (Pressure-core-Pressure etc). The PcP is the reflected P-wave and ScS is the reflected S-wave. The ScP wave is an interesting phenomena, as it's formed as a part of the energy in the S-wave is converted into a P wave and reflected. There are also higher orders of seismic wave phases that can be detected (or modelled in synthetic seismograms) near the epicenter, the PcP2 and ScS2 e.g. (not shown in figure). The PKiKP is a reflection from the inner core. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qK3Tz.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qK3Tz.png" alt="P"></a></p>

<p>The travel time diagram gives a rather good idea of when to expect seismic phases at different distances from the earthquake. The distance is in degrees, so 180$^\circ$ is on the opposite side of the planet. Note how the core shields all direct shear waves, that is why we know that the outer core is fluid. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-06T11:37:39.613Z
2017-04-06T15:22:08.273Z
2017-04-06T15:22:08.273Z
user2821
<p>If a person is to stand at the epicenter of an earthquake. Is it true that he would not detect P-waves nor S-waves echoing off the mantle core boundary? </p>

<p>Since if P-wave that enter perpendicularly into the core is not refracted or reflected and S-waves are absorbed by the liquid outer core?</p>

<earthquakes><seismology>
seismic wave detection standing at the epicenter
casualprogrammer
# seismic wave detection standing at the epicenter

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-05)

If a person is to stand at the epicenter of an earthquake. Is it true that he would not detect P-waves nor S-waves echoing off the mantle core boundary?

Since if P-wave that enter perpendicularly into the core is not refracted or reflected and S-waves are absorbed by the liquid outer core?

**Tags:** earthquakes, seismology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-04-06. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

A person would not detect much else than the surface waves (Love and Rayleigh waves). The later body waves phases are of very low amplitude and are only detected by a sensitive seismometer. Also, at a short offset, it is often hard to pick later phases, even if they occur. There is a critical angle for seismic [refraction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_refraction), but not for [reflection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_seismology). 0-offset reflection originates just beneath the source.

The core-mantle boundary represent a large change in elastic properties, so some energy will bounce back to the surface. We call these [phases](http://www.isc.ac.uk/standards/phases/) *PcP*, *ScP* and *ScS* phases (Pressure-core-Pressure etc). The PcP is the reflected P-wave and ScS is the reflected S-wave. The ScP wave is an interesting phenomena, as it's formed as a part of the energy in the S-wave is converted into a P wave and reflected. There are also higher orders of seismic wave phases that can be detected (or modelled in synthetic seismograms) near the epicenter, the PcP2 and ScS2 e.g. (not shown in figure). The PKiKP is a reflection from the inner core.

[![P](https://i.sstatic.net/qK3Tz.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qK3Tz.png)

The travel time diagram gives a rather good idea of when to expect seismic phases at different distances from the earthquake. The distance is in degrees, so 180$^\circ$ is on the opposite side of the planet. Note how the core shields all direct shear waves, that is why we know that the outer core is fluid.


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