Surface waves have a longer duration and higher amplitude than body waves.
Explanation:
The stark difference between an earthquake body and surface waves is such that they have longer duration and a higher amplitude compared to body waves.
There are two categories of seismic waves that usually accompanies an earthquake:
body waves are faster and perpetuate in the subsurface. They reach the seismic station first and are discovered faster.
surface waves arrives later and they cause the damage produced by most earthquake waves. They perpetuate on the surface.
