Surface wave

A surface wave is a type of wave that travels along the boundary between two different materials, such as where the ocean meets the air or where the ground meets the atmosphere. Unlike waves that travel through the middle of a substance, surface waves move in a rippling motion along the surface itself, similar to the ripples you see when you drop a stone into water. These waves are important in many areas of science, from seismology where they help scientists study earthquakes, to oceanography where they shape coastal landscapes and affect ships at sea.