Seismic surface waves. Artwork of the two types of surface wave produced by an earthquake. The Love wave (top) is a transverse wave that causes ground displacement (blue arrows) at right angles to the direction of the wave's movement (yellow arrow). Rayleigh waves (bottom) are analogous to waves in water, in which the ground moves in a rolling manner (blue circular arrows). The amplitude (distance between peak and trough) of surface waves can be large, and they are usually responsible for much of the damage that occurs in an earthquake. As well as surface waves, earthquakes produce body waves, which travel through the Earth's interior. See image E360/021 for these waves.