Rayleighwave
Rayleigh waves are a type of surface wave that travel along the Earth's surface, caused by the release of energy from an earthquake or other seismic events. They are named after Lord Rayleigh, who mathematically predicted their existence in 1885. Unlike body waves, which travel through the Earth's interior, Rayleigh waves move along the surface, causing both vertical and horizontal motion.
These waves are characterized by their elliptical particle motion, which is confined to a vertical plane. The
Rayleigh waves are slower than body waves, typically traveling at about 90% of the shear wave velocity.
The study of Rayleigh waves is crucial for understanding the structure of the Earth's crust and for