Consider the following statements :

I. Earthquake waves are basically of two types, namely body waves and surface waves.

II. The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate surface waves.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both statements are correct according to fundamental geomorphology. Earthquake waves are broadly classified into two categories: body waves and surface waves. Body waves are generated due to the release of energy at the focus (hypocentre) and move in all directions, travelling through the interior of the earth. When these body waves reach the surface and interact with the surface rocks, they generate a new set of waves called surface waves. While body waves (comprising P-waves and S-waves) travel through the Earth's interior, surface waves move strictly along the surface. Surface waves are typically slower than body waves but are responsible for the most severe damage during an earthquake as they cause significant displacement of rocks and surface structures.