This paper shows that five different families of spheroidal modes can be isolated, namely: 1) Inner Core and Stoneley modes ("
K" modes); 2) "
V" (vertical) modes, with mainly vertical displacement; 3) "
C" (Colatitudinal) modes, with mainly horizontal displacement; 4) "
R" (Rayleigh) modes, in which the horizontal and vertical displacements are totally coupled, and 5) "
H" (Hybrid) modes, with intermediate coupling.
V and
C modes occur at high phase velocities,
R modes at low phase velocities, and
H modes at intermediate ones. Each of the families of modes has distinctly different properties, including group velocity,
Q, and excitation functions.
Except for H modes, these families are arranged in "pseudo-overtone" branches, along which physical properties vary smoothly. A theoretical description of the properties of
V,
C and
K modes is given, using the simplified model of a homogeneous, non-gravitating Earth. Two important observations are explained, using this model: i) The solution for
C modes at low values of l are identical to the ones for corresponding
T (Torsional) modes, and have, therefore, the same eigenperiods are relative excitation functions, and ii) the radial modes
nS
0 are the
l=0 members of the
V family, and their apparent scarcity results simply because only that family has modes with
l=0. Furthermore, the group velocity of
K,
C,
V and
R modes is shown to be consistent with the physical concept of dispersion along a pseudo-overtone branch. An interpretation of the existence of the different families in terms of an increase in mode-coupling with angular order is presented.
A formal classification of the spheroidal modes into 5 families is made, and a new nomenclature is proposed, which is closely related to their physical properties.
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