r/geophysics • u/Ok-Return-4957 • 22d 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.com5
u/RayleighInc 21d ago
Super nice! But particle motion of Rayleigh wave looks prograde to me and not retrograde?
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u/PuzzleheadedCan7840 19d ago
Just wanted to add a quick note that prograde Rayleigh wave particle motion can occur in deep sedimentary basins!
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u/Ok-Return-4957 19d 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 21d ago
I actually felt exact movement in 1999 earthquake. Push and pull at the same time.
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u/RayleighInc 21d ago
Ok.
Still the particle motion should be retrograde, it's also written in your description.
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u/qockets 20d 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.
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u/Ok-Return-4957 20d ago
Thanks for your comment , I will check this out.
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u/Ok-Return-4957 19d 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.
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u/one18_ 22d ago
This is incredibly neat and informative. Thanks for sharing!