Abstract
The train of normally-dispersed, short-period, oceanic surface waves, commonly identified by the near-sinusoidal nature of all three components of ground motion in the period range of about 6 to 8 seconds, is shown to correspond to propagation in the first Love and first shear normal modes. Theoretical dispersion curves which agree with the observed dispersion of these short-period waves, as well as with dispersion of Rayleigh waves and Love waves of longer periods, are obtained for layered models of the oceanic crust which are consistent with results of seismic refraction studies. In order to obtain good quantitative agreement between theory and observation, it is essential that the effect of the small but finite rigidity of the deep-sea sedimentary layer be included in the calculations.
