rarefactional, a.
(rɛərɪˈfækʃənəl)
[f. rarefaction + -al.]
Characterized by rarefaction.
| 1909 in Cent. Dict. Suppl. 1971 I. G. Gass et al. Understanding Earth xix. 272/1 On either side of the fault, the first waves to leave the source are compressions in the direction of motion and rarefactions away from it. This gives the symmetrical distribution of compressional and rarefactional first motions shown. 1972 Sci. Amer. May 58/3 After an earthquake one finds that the seismological stations that have received the first waves can be assigned to one of four geographic quadrants. In two of the quadrants, lying opposite each other, the first waves are compressional; in the other two quadrants the first waves are rarefactional. |