Rayleigh wave

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The types of seismic waves explained

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Learn about P waves, S waves, Love waves, and Rayleigh waves generated by an earthquake

Rayleigh wave

seismology

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July 13, 2026

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The types of seismic waves explained — The types of seismic waves explained The shifting rock in an earthquake causes vibrations called seismic waves that travel within Earth or along its surface. The four main types of seismic waves are P waves, S waves, Love waves, and Rayleigh waves.

Rayleigh waves are a type of seismic wave that travels along the surface of a solid medium, such as the Earth. These waves are observed in seismic disturbances and are characterized by a motion that is confined to the surface layers.1

Seismic waves are vibrations generated by events like earthquakes or explosions and propagate through or along the Earth's surface. There are two main categories: body waves, which travel within the Earth, and surface waves, which travel along the surface. Rayleigh waves are a type of surface wave, named after Lord Rayleigh, who mathematically demonstrated their existence. Their motion involves both longitudinal compression and dilation, resulting in an elliptical movement of points on the surface. This elliptical motion is likely the primary cause of damage from earthquakes. Rayleigh waves typically travel at slightly over 90 percent of the speed of shear waves.234

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seismic wave
…principal surface waves are called Rayleigh waves after the British physicist Lord Rayleigh, who first mathematically demonstrated their existence. Rayleigh waves travel along the free surface of an elastic solid such as the Earth. Their motion is a combination of longitudinal compression and dilation that results in an elliptical motion…
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…principal surface waves are called Rayleigh waves after the British physicist Lord Rayleigh, who first mathematically demonstrated their existence. Rayleigh waves travel along the free surface of an elastic solid such as the Earth. Their motion is a combination of longitudinal compression and dilation that results in an elliptical motion…
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mechanics of solids
Waves
…surface wave, now called a Rayleigh wave, propagates typically at slightly more than 90 percent of the shear wave speed and involves an elliptical path of particle motion that lies in planes parallel to that defined by the normal to the surface and the propagation direction. Another type of surface…
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…surface wave, now called a Rayleigh wave, propagates typically at slightly more than 90 percent of the shear wave speed and involves an elliptical path of particle motion that lies in planes parallel to that defined by the normal to the surface and the propagation direction. Another type of surface…
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earthquake
Principal types of seismic waves
Love and Rayleigh waves are guided by the free surface of the Earth. They follow along after the P and S waves have passed through the body of the planet. Both Love and Rayleigh waves involve horizontal particle motion, but only the latter type has vertical ground…
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Love and Rayleigh waves are guided by the free surface of the Earth. They follow along after the P and S waves have passed through the body of the planet. Both Love and Rayleigh waves involve horizontal particle motion, but only the latter type has vertical ground…
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Earth exploration
Seismic refraction methods
…of surface wave is the Rayleigh wave, in which a particle moves in an elliptical path in the vertical plane from the source. The horizontal component of Rayleigh waves is probably the principal cause of damage from earthquakes. Love waves are another type of surface wave; they involve shear motion.…
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…of surface wave is the Rayleigh wave, in which a particle moves in an elliptical path in the vertical plane from the source. The horizontal component of Rayleigh waves is probably the principal cause of damage from earthquakes. Love waves are another type of surface wave; they involve shear motion.…
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