Propagation of surface waves on an ellipsoidal earth

Summary The effect of ellipticity on the paths of Love waves is calculated for a homogeneous model; the result is a small gradual deviation from a plane section, varying with the inclination of this plane, maximum for trajectories nearly parallel to the equatorial plane; due to the differences in these deviations, the paths from a point near the equator are focalised along a caustic curve elongated by about one degree in a parallel direction with the equator. The effect of a radial inhomogeneity of the model is found small for periods less than 500 seconds.Contribution I.P.G. n^o 192.