Scattering of Rayleigh Waves by Surface Irregularities

Abstract

Scattering of surface waves by mass defects is estimated as a function of frequency and defect depth. Attenuation of surface waves of microwave frequencies on polished surfaces is discussed. Most of the energy is scattered into other surface waves, rather than body waves, so that energy of surface waves is retained, and leaks into the interior relatively slowly. This may explain the duration of seismic signals on the moon after the crash of the lunar excursion module during the Apollo 12 mission.