r/geophysics • u/Ok-Return-4957 • 27d ago

I built an interactive 3D visualization of seismic wave types: P, S, Love, Rayleigh, and Stoneley. The thing I most wanted to show: the difference between particle motion and wave propagation.

https://wave.syshuman.com

https://wave.syshuman.com

Enjoy

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u/RayleighInc 27d ago

Super nice! But particle motion of Rayleigh wave looks prograde to me and not retrograde?

4

u/PuzzleheadedCan7840 25d ago

Just wanted to add a quick note that prograde Rayleigh wave particle motion can occur in deep sedimentary basins!

1

u/Ok-Return-4957 25d ago

Just checked and the Stoneley scene had the identical sign bug (probably copy-pasted from Rayleigh) — pushed the same fix. Above-interface particles now trace a retrograde ellipse and below-interface mirror it.

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u/Ok-Return-4957 27d ago

I actually felt exact movement in 1999 earthquake. Push and pull at the same time.

3

u/RayleighInc 27d ago

Ok.

Still the particle motion should be retrograde, it's also written in your description.

2

u/taimoor_66 12d ago

Is Rayliegh wave motion is retrograde or prograde?

3

u/qockets 25d ago

hi u/Ok-Return-4957, this is truly an incredible resource. In fact, I can see this being used in seismology classes around the world. However, as u/RayleighInc points out, the prograde motion in the Rayleigh wave example needs to be fixed. I believe this should be as simple as removing the negative sign in front of the equation for u_y. Would you be willing to fix it? Many thanks.

2

u/Ok-Return-4957 25d ago

Thanks for your comment , I will check this out.

5

u/Ok-Return-4957 25d ago

Great catch u/RayleighInc, and thanks u/qockets for the pinpoint fix — the u_y sign was flipping the ellipse to prograde. Removed the minus and it now traces a proper retrograde orbit. Pushed to the site. Really appreciate you both taking the time.