Types of Seismic Waves Explained | Britannica

The microseism is the ambient seismic noise of the Earth, caused by winds in the ocean generating standing waves. The pressure from the waves going up and down beats the seafloor and vibrates the earth with ambient "noise." Strong winds generated by storms and hurricanes create ocean waves and pressure fluctuations that cause stronger up and down movements in the water column, which seismometers can record. The microseism is composed mostly of Rayleigh waves. Of all seismic waves, Rayleigh waves