Surface waves are a type of seismic waves generated by earthquakes. They travel along the Earth's surface and can cause significant damage to structures and the environment. However, it's not accurate to say that surface waves alone cause the most damage during an earthquake.
During an earthquake, there are several types of seismic waves that are generated, including primary waves (P-waves), secondary waves (S-waves), and surface waves. P-waves and S-waves are body waves that travel through the interior of the Earth, while surface waves propagate along the Earth's surface.
P-waves and S-waves are responsible for most of the ground shaking during an earthquake. P-waves are the fastest seismic waves and are capable of traveling through solids, liquids, and gases. S-waves, on the other hand, are slower than P-waves and can only travel through solids. Both P-waves and S-waves can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure due to their ability to induce ground shaking.
Surface waves, although slower than body waves, can cause additional damage because they have larger amplitudes and longer periods. There are two types of surface waves: Love waves and Rayleigh waves. Love waves move in a side-to-side motion and primarily affect the horizontal components of structures. Rayleigh waves have a rolling motion that causes the ground to move up and down and side to side. These surface waves can produce significant ground motion and have the potential to cause damage to buildings, bridges, and other structures.
The type and amount of damage caused by an earthquake depend on various factors, including the magnitude and depth of the earthquake, the distance from the epicenter, the local geology, and the design and construction of infrastructure. While surface waves contribute to the overall damage, it is the combination of different types of seismic waves that poses the greatest threat during an earthquake.