An S wave, or shear wave, is a type of seismic body wave that moves through the Earth's interior. It is characterized by its side-to-side, rotational, or elliptical motion, which causes the ground to shake perpendicular to the direction of the wave's travel. Unlike P waves (primary waves), S waves cannot travel through liquids, which is why they are not felt during underwater earthquakes. S waves are generally slower than P waves and can cause more damage during an earthquake due to their more vigorous shaking motion. read more >>

An S wave, or shear wave, is a seismic body wave that shakes the ground back and forth perpendicular to the direction the wave is moving.read more >>