Viscoelastic Love waves in a layered structure with a weak lateral inhomogeneity

High frequency Love surface waves are considered in a linear medium with Maxwell–Boltzmann–Volterra anelasticity. Vertical dependecies of the material parameters are rather arbitrary. Weak lateral inhomogeneity as well as anelasticity which is small for high frequencies are treated by perturbation. The leading term of the ray expansion which corresponds to the energy balance along real surface rays is given. Additional components, i.e., the Rayleigh-type components of the displacement described by a higher-order correction are discussed.